THE PLANTING SEASON. 
259 
A moist day is the best for planting, because any kind of drought to which 
the roots may be exposed, robs them of a proportionate quantity of what may 
appropriately be called their vital blood. Want of care in preserving all the small 
roots is injurious for the same reason, and also as it deprives the plant of so many 
means of drawing nourishment after it is planted. The demand on the leaves and 
other exposed portions by the atmosphere becomes greater than the resources 
which can be taken up by the roots will compensate. Sufficient covering for the 
roots, while the plants necessarily lie out of the ground, is also useful to prevent 
the undue evaporation and loss of essential moisture. 
To spread out the roots of a plant with an adequate minuteness of attention 
while fixing it in its new position, is, moreover, an essential step ; for if the roots 
get crushed and broken in this process, or if they be not so disposed as to have 
each a clear space left for extension and for imbibing food, all the previous caution 
will be of no avail. And in this direction is included the covering of them softly 
and thoroughly with finely-broken light earth, which should be interposed nicely 
between the several layers of them, placing and covering each root individually. 
At the same time, all broken or damaged ends of the roots should be cleanly cut 
away with a sharp knife. 
As to watering, the amount of that must be determined by the state of the 
atmosphere, both at the period of planting, and throughout the subsequent season. 
As a general hint, evergreens require most, and all sorts of plants should be sup- 
plied with it before they are likely to want it. If the other points of which we 
have spoken be, however, duly regarded, waterings will not be so needful as 
where less attention is bestowed. What is called puddling, which is practised by 
some planters under special circumstances of drought or lateness in the season, is a 
highly injudicious proceeding. It tends to seal up the roots against both air and 
moisture for a very long period afterwards. 
With respect, lastly, to staking, this is of the utmost utility to all plants 
which are liable to be blown about by winds ; for winds, by shaking the plants, 
break off the small fibrous roots, and thus throw the specimens back a considerable 
time. We may here remark, as a sort of sequence to this observation, that when 
stakes cannot be given, or when merely forest planting is in question, it is much 
more prudent to use only plants of low stature, and such as will not present a 
mark for the winds to drive at. 
We have thus gone over a deal of ground, which, we are aware, has frequently 
been travelled before ; and we are less anxious to bring forward new truths than 
to enforce old ones, the latter being more likely to be forgotten. Many things we 
have no doubt omitted ; amongst which is the indispensableness of having balls of 
earth to all specimens which are transplanted, after they grow to any size. But 
we have collected a number of prominent points together, and look rather for the 
partial and gradual issue of our efforts, than for that complete revolution in practice 
which the writer of a more comprehensive or extended essay would be supposed 
to expect. 
