S4 THE AMERICAN GARDENER. [Chap 



very upright^ and then put the earth against them 

 with your hand, taking care not to plant them deeper 

 in the ground than they stood before you took them 

 up from the nursery. The distance between each 

 plant is twelve inches. When this line is done, 

 plant another line all the way along by the side of 

 it, and at six inches from it, in exactly the same 

 manner ; but, mind, in this second line, the plants 

 are not to stand opposite the plants in the first line, 

 but opposite the middles of the intervals. When 

 both lines are planted, tread gently between them 

 and also on the outsides of them, and then hoe the 

 ground a little, and leave it nice and neat. 



42. This work should be done in the first or se^ 

 cond week of October, even though the leaves should 

 yet be on the plants. For, their roots will strike 

 in this fine month, and the plants will be ready to 

 start off in the spring in a vigorous manner. If you 

 cannot do it in the fall, do it the moment the ground 

 is fit in the spring ; because, if you delay it too 

 long, the heat and drought comes, and the plants 

 cannot thrive so well. 



43. In both cases the plants must be cut down 

 almost close to the ground. If you plant. in the fall, 

 cut them down as soon as the frost is out of the 

 ground in the spring, and before the buds begin to 

 swell ; and, if you plant in the spring, cut down as 

 soon as you have planted. This operation is of in- 

 dispensable necessity ; for, without it you will have 

 no hedge. This cutting down to within half an 

 inch of the ground will cause the plants to send out 

 shoots that will, in good ground, mount up to the 

 length of three or four feet, during the summer* 

 But, you must keep the ground between them and 

 all about them very clean and frequently hoedf 



