The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-12-08
Practical Tests in Transplantins.

In an essay read by Mr.. j. T. Lovett,
Little silver, n. j., before the last meet
ing of the American horticultural Socle'
ty, this enterpri>ing horticulturist pre-
sented some facts in relation to trans.
planting borne of his own experience, and
what, in many instances, demolished pet
theories. Following are some OF the
statements made by Mr.. Lovett:
1. Celery and cabbage plants become
established in their new quarters as well
and rs quickly. whether freshly taken
from the seedbed or alter being kept IN
damp cellar for any number of days be-
tween one and six, with hardly notice
able difference only in favor of the fresh
ly pulled plants.
2. There is no perceptible difference
in the behavior of plants after trans
planting, whether during their short In
term in the cellar their roots were kept
in damp soil or in water. The new for,
nation of fbrous rootlets, one quarter Of
an inch in length, deve'opel during a
several days sojourn of the roots in
water. proved to be of no advantage
whatever. ::
8. Plant, set out just as they come
from the SEED bed or cellar do exactly as
well as those the roots of which were
dipped in water or mud beforetransplant
ing. The famous pudding" is of nc
account.
4. The application of water to rea
sonably moist soil-one which is neith:l
wet nor dry, and therefore IN the only
proper condition for the work-after
transplanting has no visible effect and is
entirely superiuous
5. When the soil is very dry, the ap'
plication of water some time before set
ting out the plants, so as to get a merely
moist soil at planting time, is of decided
advantage and preferable to watering at,
ter planting.
6. Under average conditions it was
found immatclial whether the work is
done in the forenoon or afternoon. Only
during extreme hot weather, with an ex:
cessively dry atmosphere, is it advised
to defer setting plants until after the
proverbial 4 p. NJ.
7. Plants pull d from the seed-bed,
when tbs is thoroughly wet, recover
from the effects of transplanting so mel
than wh:n taken from scarcely moist
bed.
8. Shading the plants for a few days
after setting them out, either by means
of boards above the rows, or by otAer
means, is of decided and lasting benefit.
The here enumerated facts appear to
Justify the axiom that the plant itself
its character, size and condition-is a
most potent factor. AS regards size the
advice is given that celery plants be large
in IA the larger the bctter-as the
roots dc elop but slowly during their
earlier life. Cabbage plants of medium
size seem to get over the effects of trans
planting quicker than very large or very
small ones. Their roots develop compar.
atively much earlier than those of celery.
In both kinds of plants, however. the
proper balance between root and top
must be either already existing or cstab'
lished by pruning. -.
The character, or rather composition
of the plants is of the utmost import
ance. Any plaut, no matter how thrifty
it may appear to be, is of little value il
its mineral constituents are scanty. The
right kind of plants, such as will beal
handling and transplanting we'll and
quickly recover from its effects, are those
grown on soil abounding with the Gle.
mcnts of plant food; not in one with an
EXCESS of vegetable matter.-'NeU Yord
W1rN