TRANSPLANTING-. 



139 



Transplanting' Herbaceous Plants.— Most of these are 



easily transplanted as soon as they have done flowering, or 

 before they begin to grow in the spring. For annuals, when 

 the season is somewhat advanced, a damp, cloudy day, just 

 before or just after a shower, or in the evening, is the 

 proper time for the operation. Immediately after a very 

 heavy rain is not the best season, as the soil, if moved 

 while too wet, forms a crust about the plant. In the case 

 of choice young plants, they should be taken up with a 

 trowel, removing them with a ball of earth, and the plant 

 will hardly be checked in its growth. Larger plants may 

 be taken up in the same way with the transplanter or 

 spade. Those not removed with a ball, may be grouted by 

 mixing up a quantity of rich loam in water to a semi-fluid 

 state, and inserting the roots therein. Plants that suffer 

 little in taking up, like the cabbage, may have a hole 

 made in the earth with a dibble and the plant inserted 

 therein, when the dibble is again inserted a little obliquely 

 near the stem, and the earth pushed up close to the root. 

 All tap-rooted plants are moved with difficulty. Many 

 herbaceous plants, sweet potato slips for instance, can be 

 safely set out in dry weather in freshly moved soil, by 

 making a hole for their reception, setting the plants there- 

 in, and just covering the roots with fine soil ; then fill the 

 hole with water about the roots and cover them at the 

 surface with dry soil, to retain the moisture and keep the 

 surface from baking. The operation must be performed 

 in the evening. 



All valuable herbaceous plants should be protected with 

 sun shades or plant protectors, when just planted, if the 

 sun comes out hot. These are described in the chapter 

 on Implements. 



