GENERAL CULTURE 191 
neither should it ever be undertaken on land 
that is cold and wet. 
Evergreens, both cone-bearing and broad- 
leaved, must have a little space all to them- 
selves, for their treatment is very special and 
they are very risky things to handle out of the 
ground. Never buy them unless you are as- 
sured that they will be dug with a ball of earth 
clinging to their roots, which will be properly 
burlapped as soon as the specimen is lifted 
from the ground and carefully packed to as- 
sure its remaining in place in transit. Do not 
open this packing until the hole to receive the 
plant is dug to the proper depth and a little 
larger than the earth ball and is ready to re- 
ceive it, with no manure uncovered but with a 
sifting of fine earth over any that may have 
been used to prevent the roots from coming 
in contact with it. 
Then cut the stitches which hold the burlap, 
lift the plant into the hole still enclosed in it, 
and finally work it out gradually while the 
plant is held up sufficiently to allow of this by 
a helper, being careful to keep the earth ball 
intact if it is possible to do so. To this end, 
evergreens must never be shaken and jolted 
as deciduous plants are, but should be held still 
while the fine top soil is sifted around and 
