General Planting and 
Maintenance Suggestions 
The finest plants grown will not succeed un- 
less they are planted right and have proper 
care thereafter. We shall make here, briefly, 
a few suggestions concerning this, hoping that 
it may prove of some value to our customers. 
Generally speaking, plants should have the 
burlap and packing material removed from 
the roots before planting. This is true of 
both bare root (B.R.) and Balled and Bur- 
lapped (B&B) plants. However, in case of 
B&B plants, care must be exercised not to 
disturb the ball of earth around the roots of 
the plant, in removal of the burlap. The 
hole or plant pit should be dug at least 1 foot 
larger in diameter than the ball of earth or 
root spread of the plant and only deep enough 
so that the plant will be planted a fraction 
deeper than it stood in the nursery. Only 
good, loose, top soil should be used to back- 
fill around the plant. If the existing soll 
is not good, it should be replaced. Back fill 
around the plant with loose soil and soak in 
with water to settle the soil around the roots. 
A saucer-like basin around the base of the 
plant will help in subsequent waterings. This 
Floradora 

1 
% 
Ng 
Pinocchio (Patent No. 484) 
watering-in should be done even when the 
eround is wet at the time of planting. 
Watering, pruning, insect control, and feed- 
ing are the important things to remember 
in the maintenance of plants. 
Watering Is most important, espe- 
cially during the first season after 
transplanting. The only effec- 
tive way to water is to give plants 
periodic soakings once or twice 
every week. Sprinkling the sur- 
face around a plant does abso- 
lutely no good. Water must be 
soaked in around the plant so 
that it reaches to the bottom of 
the root system. Lack of water 
causes 90% of the mortality of 
plants during the first year after 
transplanting. Proper pruning 
and feeding are important to 
healthy plant growth. Space is 
too limited to discuss this phase of 
maintenance. Reputable nurs- 
erymen can help with advice on 
this as well as insect control. Do 
not hesitate to call when your 
plants need attention. 

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 
23 
