R. M. KELLOGO'S GREAT CROPS OF 
way incases the roots in a veritable pocket and if 
dry weather follows the glazed surface will dry out 
and no feeding root can penetrate it. Dig a plant 
up a week afterwards and find tlie little white root- 
lets tracing up and down the old root to find a 
crack in this "plastered wall" through which they 
can penetrate to the mellow soil just beyond. No 
good growth can be had under such circumstances. 
If the ground be moderately loamy or clay the 
weight of a man will not close the bottom of the 
cavity. 
Set a plant and step on it in the usual way 
and tlien dig down by the side of it and see how 
many "rat homes" you will find with roots hang- 
ing in the free open air. You will be surprised to 
find that often more than half are exposed. An- 
other objection is that the lower ends of roots are 
buried too deep. The roots of a plant spread out 
in all directions and coming near the surface feel 
the warmth of the sun and send out feeders much 
sooner. Notice the natural tendency in roots to 
run near the surface when taking them up in prop- 
agating bed. 
A "Rat Home." 
(Bottom of hole not 
The Wrong Way. closed. 
Use the spade this way.— Let a man go 
ahead of the setter, force the spade straight down 
two-thirds the length of the blade, then draw the 
handle towards him about ten inches, force one 
inch deeper, push from him far enough to make 
the earth stay and withdraw the spade, thus leav- 
ing the opening so the bottom is easily closed. 
Quickly insert the hand, rub off the glazed surface 
and take a few ^ roots from one side of the plant, 
holding crown in left hand, deftly drag the roots 
sideways into the opening and when all spread out 
evenly and center of crown just even -with surface 
of ground, quickly fill the cavity, piling the earth 
so that when stepped on it will be perfectly level 
around the plant. 
If the crowns are too low they will rot or 
make a feeble growth. If too high the upper roots 
will be exposed to wind and die. The new roots 
always start from above the old ones and if the 
plant is not in the ground deep enough they will 
not start. {See engravings.) If a little too deep 
new crowns will not start on the side of the plant, 
and if a little too high it will make only a feeble 
growth. I urge great care in doing this work. 
Too Deep. Too Shallow 
lycaving the ground without cultivation for 
a few days in a dry lime kills and stunts more 
plants than any other negligence you are liable to 
Clyde. 
commit. To have a boy drop plants ahead of the 
setter, often leaving them five minutes in the bright 
sun and drying winds is sure death or permanent in- 
jury. Don't do it. Put a piece of manila paper in the 
bottom of a basket and pour in a quart of water 
and then open the bunches of plants and set the 
roots in it and take them out as needed. Do not 
let them stand in water only a few minutes before 
setting as they become soaked and injured. If the 
weather is cloudy and roots moist do not wet them 
at all. 
The most perfect 
tool ever invented for 
this purpose is the per- 
fection plant setter. 
It digs the hole, leav- 
ing in the center a : 
cone. It is set with a ' 
guage so it can be : 
neither too deep nor ; 
too shallow. Take the ! 
plant by the crown 
and hold the roots Set with the "Cone Maker." 
upside down , gi\-ing it a slight quick jerk and roots 
will fall over the hand when you can quickly turn 
it over the cone and the roots will arrange them- 
selves evenly around it. Then tlie dirt is quickly 
brushed back into the opening and firmed. The 
cone comes clear up under the center of the crown, 
the bottom of cone being about five inches in di- 
ameter and the roots so distributed there can be no 
tangled mass, as it gives a circumference and im- 
mediate root pasturage of over 15 inches. 
The perfection plant setter does the work 
faster than any other machine that will do it equal- 
ly well. 
The only requirements are that the ground 
shall be properly fitted by rolling and free from 
sod, straw, or anything which would gather on the 
edges of the blades in quantities .so as to tear the 
cone to pieces. Small stones do not interfere if not 
too many. Price of .setter, $3.50. 
An absolute necessity. — I wish to impress 
the necessity of loosening the earth around the 
plant by cultivating immediately after plants are 
set so that capillary action will bring the water up 
above the roots and collect under tlie loose earth or 
dust inulch and nourish the plant during the trying 
ordeal of trans-planting and becoming established. 
Where you step around the plant to firm it about the 
roots you have left the particles so close together 
that the water draws up to the surface with great 
rapidity to be carried off with sun and wind. I do 
not wait a single hour after plants are set before 
cultivating. 
16 
