IV 



PLANTING 



53 



them by all means in their power to remain there. 

 They know that the produce of tap-roots is gross wood 

 without blossom, and that fibrous surface roots must 

 be looked to for flowers and fruitfulness ; yet some 

 recommend the seedling briar as a stock because it 

 roots deeper, although we surely want flowers, not 

 gross wood alone, from the Rose as well as the fruit- 

 tree. 



In planting, therefore, at the depth recommended, 

 carefully spread out the roots horizontally, equally in 

 all directions if possible, though this cannot always be 

 done, purchased dwarfs often having roots pointing only 

 in one direction, which arises in some degree from 

 carelessness and haste in originally planting the stocks. 

 If a separate hole be made for each plant, let it be wide 

 enough ; do not curve the roots or let them cross each 

 other. If they naturally want to cross, or there be two 

 or more going in the same direction, put some fairly 

 light soil between them that they may lie in layers but 

 always horizontally. See that the soil which is put 

 against the roots themselves, or to cover each layer of 

 roots, is at all events fairly fine and crumbly, if not 

 actually dry and powdery ; lift the plant by the top up 

 and down a little with a shaking movement to settle 

 the soil more thoroughly amongst the fibres, and 

 remember that the whole operation of planting is done 

 much more thoroughly and expeditiously by two men 

 than by one. If single-handed, a short pointed stick 

 for scratching fine soil between the fibres will often be 

 found more handy than trowel or spade. Just fairly 

 cover all the roots with a couple of inches of soil, tread 

 it very lightly and carefully, and pass on to the next 

 plant, for the rest of the soil can be added at the 

 conclusion of the day's work. 



