Book IV. 



TRANSPLANTING. 



405 



the case of bad roots, wlilch sometimes occasion the plants to be left a little leaning. In 

 such cases, the application of the foot slightly, once or twice, after the soil has become 

 somewhat firm (which generally happens in less than an hour), sets the tree upright, and 

 so firm as to require no staking. [Rural Improver, p. 89.) 



2098. Panning, mulching, and staking. Panning is an almost obsolete phrase, applied 

 by Switzer, and writers of his day, to the operation of forming a hollow or basin round 

 trees, for the purpose of retaining water when given them by art. Mulching consists in 

 laying a circle of litter round the roots of newly planted trees, to retain the natural humi- 

 dity of the soil, or to prevent the evaporation of artificial watering. Staking is the oper- 

 ation of supporting standard-trees, by tying them with straw, or other soft ties, to poles or 

 stakes inserted firmly in the ground close to the tree. 



2099. Planting edgings. Edgings are rows of low-growing plants, as box, daisy, &c. 

 planted in lines along the margins of walks and alleys, to separate them from the earth 

 and gravel. They should always be planted before either the gravel or substratum are 

 deposited. To perform the operation, the first thing is to form the surfaces for the edg- 

 ings in planes corresponding with the established slopes or levels of the borders or other 

 parts of the garden, observing, that a line crossing the walk at right angles, and touching 

 both of the prepared surfaces, must always be a horizontal line, whether the walk be on a 

 level or slope. Suppose a walk 150 feet long on a gentle declivity, and that the level or 

 height of both ends are fixed on ; then by the operation of the borning-pieces, any num- 

 ber of intermediate points is readily formed to the same slope, and the spaces between 

 these points are regulated by the eye or the application of the straight-edge. The earth, 

 so formed into a regular slope, need not exceed about a foot in breadth, on which the line 

 being stretched, half is to be cut down, with a face sloping towards the walk, and against 

 this sloping, or nearly perpendicular face, the box is to be laid as thin and regular as 

 practicable, and every where to the same height, say one inch above the soil. The box 

 is to be previously prepared by separation, and shortening the roots and tops. This is one 

 of those operations, on the performance of which, with accuracy, depends much of the 

 beauty of kitchen-gardens. 



2100. Planting verges. Verges are edgings of turf, generally two feet broad or up- 

 wards. The turves being cut in regular laminae, with the edges or sides of each turf per- 

 pendicular, and the two ends oblique in the same slope, they are to be placed so as the 

 one may fit exactly to the other. They are next to be beat with the beetle, afterwards 

 watered, and again beat or rolled, and finally a line applied to their edges, and the raser 

 {fig. 101.) used to cut them off neatly and perpendicularly. If the turf is from loamy 

 soil, this is readily effected ; but if no turf can be got but from sandy soils, then it must 

 be cut very thin, and placed on good earth or loam, according to circumstances. Verges 

 are sometimes, though rarely, formed of chamomile, strawberries, dwarf-thyme, &c. in 

 which situations the wood-strawberry and chamomile produce abundant crops. 



2101. Transplanting or laying down turf. Turfing, as this operation is commonly called, 

 consists in laying down turf on surfaces intended for lawn, in parterres or pleasure- 

 grounds. The turf is cut from a smooth firm part of an old sheep -pasture, free from 

 coarse grasses, in performing which the ground is first crossed by parallel lines, about a 

 foot asunder, and afterwards intersected by others three feet asunder, both made with 

 a line and the turf-raser. Afterwards, the turf-spade or turfing-iron is employed to 

 separate the individual turves, which are rolled up, and conveyed to tfie spot where they 

 are to be used. It is to be observed, that, in this case, all the sides of each turf are be- 

 velled ; by which means, when they are laid down exactly as they were before being 

 taken up, their edges will fit, and in some degree lap over each other, and thereby, after 

 rolling, a more compact surface will be formed. The surface on which the turves are 

 to be laid, ought previously to be either dug or trenched, so as to be brought to one de- 

 gree of consistency, and then rolled, so as it may not afterwards sink ; the turves being 

 laid so as to fit, are to be first beaten individually, and then watered and rolled till the 

 whole is smooth and even. 



2102. In transplanting in pots, the general practice is to begin with the smallest-sized 

 pot, and gradually to transplant into others larger, as the plant advances, and as the ob- 

 ject may be to produce a large or a small plant. In the case of balsams and tender an- 

 nuals, this may require to be performed three or four times a month, till the plant has 

 attained its full size ; in the case of heaths, not more than once a year or seldomer. 



2103. The operation qf potting is thus performed. Having the pots and mould ready for the reception of 

 the intended plants, observe, previous to planting them, to place some pieces of tile, potsherds, or oyster, 

 shells, or gravel over the hole at the bottom of the pot, both to prevent the hole from being clogged and 

 stopped with the earth, and the earth from being washed out with occasional watering ; and also to prevent 

 tlie roots of the plants from getting out. Having secured the holes, place some earth in the bottom of 

 each pot, from tv/o or three to five or six inches or more in depth, according to the size of the pot, and the 

 roots of the plant. This done, insert the plant in the middle of the pot, upon the earth, in an upright 

 position ; if without a ball of earth, spread its roots equally every way, and directly add a quantity of fine 

 mould about all the roots and fibres, shaking the pot to cause the earth to settle close about them ; at the 

 same time, if the roots stand too low, shake it gently up, as you shall see occasion j and having filled the 



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