6 THE BOOK OF SHRUBS 
It is a good rule in planting operations of all kinds to 
expose the roots to atmospheric influences as little as 
possible, therefore the ground should in all cases be 
ready for the reception of shrubs or trees immediately they 
arrive. When they are unpacked dip the roots if dry 
in a vessel of water, place them together in a position 
convenient to the bed or border in which they are to be 
planted, and lay a mat or a piece of canvas over the 
roots. In planting make the holes large enough to 
admit of the roots being spread out horizontally and 
deep enough for the stem to be about an inch or so 
lower in the soil than it was previously as indicated 
by the soil mark. Place rather fine soil immediately 
over the roots and then proceed to fill in the hole 
and tread the soil firmly as this is being done, and 
if the soil is close and retentive, a barrowful of old 
soil from the potting bench and frame ground should 
be at hand for placing immediately over the roots. 
All the roots that have been injured in lifting or 
transit should be cut back to an inch or so above 
the wound, a sharp knife being used as a clean cut 
is of primary importance. Whether any pruning of 
the branches should be done at the time of prun- 
ing will depend upon the kinds and the size of the 
examples. Generally speaking a shortening of the 
branches of the deciduous kinds will be desirable, and 
in the case of large specimens rather severe pruning 
will be beneficial for the purpose of reducing the leaf 
area and consequently the evaporative surface in the 
succeeding spring and summer, There are exceptions 
to all rules, and large specimens that are only moved 
from one part of the garden to the other, or are lifted 
in the nursery with exceptionally good roots at the best 
time for planting operations and packed and _ planted 
carefully will so quickly recover as to be able to take 
up the amount of moisture necessary to produce a satis- 
