82 



GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



wall or trellis, bending the branches backwards and for- 

 wards so as to form numerous deposits of returning sap, 

 and the full exposure of the fruit-bearing branches to the 

 sun and air. The long shoots are shortened to make them 

 throw out side branches, with which the trellis is covered, 

 without permitting them to cross each other. Training 

 flowers should be regulated by a knowledge of their 

 habits of growth. It consists principally in checking over- 

 luxuriance of growth and tying them to stakes or frames. 

 Special directions for training the grape and pear, &c., 

 will be given hereafter. 



Transplanting. — In transplanting the main points to 

 be regarded are, care in taking up the plant so as to avoid 

 injuring, the spongeoles of the roots; planting firmly, so as 

 to enable the plant to take a secure hold of the soil; 

 reducing the top in order to prevent evaporation, and to 

 restore the balance between it and the root ; shading to 

 prevent the evaporation from the leaves being greater 

 than the plant can support, and watering that it may be 

 abundantly supplied with food in its new abode, and last 

 by performing the operation in moist weather, and with 

 as little delay as possible. 



The first thing is to avoid injury to the roots ; a little 

 care here will often save a year's growth in a tree. The 

 roots are of two kinds, the main roots which support 

 the plant in the soil, and the small fibrous roots that 

 supply it with nourishment. The fibres terminate in small 

 pores of great delicacy which act as little sponges in im- 

 bibing moisture for the use of the plant. These spongeoles 

 supply the plant with food, and if injured or broken off 

 the plant must supply itself with others, or perish for 

 want of nourishment. These fibrous roots are the ones 

 most likely to be destroyed oi injured by transplanting, and» 



