The Cairo bulletin., 1910-01-10
WHY PLANTS SOMETIMES FAIL.


falling to grow. 1t Is very easy to lay
II all at the nurseryman's door, but
often it is quite as much the fault
OF the planter as of the nurseryman,
One thing is certain, that is that nur-
serymen who handle plants have had
more experience and ought to know
more about handling them than the
average planter, says the New Yorh
Tribune Farmer. Then, too, it Is to
the nurseryman's interest to have
plants live and grow, because on the
success of a shipment depends his fu-
ture sales, even il he did not care
about the matter in any other way
Plants to do we'll must be lifted from
the nursery rows at opportune times
whether it be the time of the year
or the condition OF the weather II
dug when t,.ey are dormant. they have
much better chance Of living than
when the tops are large and heavy
with foliage. If dug when the wealth
or is cool and moist, with little wind
Va hof'''N, thCi ~ btblti NhahNO
of living and doing well than when
there are heavy driving winds blow
Ing or the sun beats down on them.
However the plants are dug, they
possible from sun and winds. After
they have been forked out OF the soil
the surplus earth In the roots must
lie shaken out, the plants tied in
lunches in the lot and thrown into
Wet sacks or buried in the moist earth
as fast as each bunch is made up.
IL plants are looked over, counted
and punched in cool shed they must
be gathered up closely after the dig
gers and Immediately carried to the
shed. For this purpose close baskets
are best, as the plants can be laid In
straghter than when tumbled into
sacks. If sacks are used to carry the
plants loose, or the punches of plants
from the lot to the sheds, they should
be dipped into barrel of water before
taking to the lot 1t Is best to~use
double sacks. one within the other,
and wet the inside sack or both OF
them. The moisture cooperating from
the sack keeps the plants cool as well
as moist.
For packing plants nothing is better
than light crates and market baskets.
The plants are stood up one row
deep In the baskets and moss is put
about the roots When crates are
used narrow crates about one foot
wide, and holding say, 1000 to $500
plants each, should be selected The
plants can be put in double rows with
roots interacing and tops exposed to
the Stats and air. Moss is placed in
layers next to the box and between
each layer of plants. Oiled paper
should be put on the ends and bottom.
wherever the plants would touch tho
wood, to prevent drying out of tho
moss. Wet spagnum moss must be
used ii obtainable. Otherwise damp
sawdust one or two years old is best
for packing strawberry plants. The
crates must be filled more than full
and the cover crowded down, 50 that
the plants win not shake about in the
package when it Is turned end over
end. II Is best not to put too many
plants in one package. II the crate is
large and bulky the plants will settle
in one end. and when the transporta-
ton companies handle these large
packages of plants chug into one end.
and are much injured Small light
baskets and crates are best
When plants are received by the
customer they should be got home as
soon as possible and taken from the
package. Don't stop and gossip with
Your neighbor when you are taking
home shipment of strawberry plants.
The package should be put under
shade, preferably in a cool woodshed
or cellar, and opened nj once, and the
plants taken out and counted II all
are right they should be SET upright
On the bottom OF the loom. with wet
moss next TO the roots, on tn b0ttom
and on the sides. If tao are wllte1.
it is a good plan to TAXI each bunch
and set in pail Of water for a short
tinle--lGJg enough 10 cake mp moisture
:, crgs 10 revive the plants.
The plants can be left in this place
and in this condition for some time.
The length of time will depend upon
the season, whether it is very early
in the spring or late, whether it is
quite warm or cool. If it is cool and
early in the season, they may be kept
two or three weeks in this condition.
1t is best to set them out as soon as
possible however, either permanently
or in little trenches in the garden
temporarily However the plants are
treated, they must always be kept
from frost, excessive sun and high,
driving, cold winds. If the package
of plants is frozer when it arrives. IL
should be placed in dark cool place,
covered up, and allowed to thaw grad
ually. Ordinarily it Is not good
plan to D,ur water on the plants he
fore they are removed from the pack
age but IL frozen we raconlmpnd pour-