Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-09

What great roots Japanese ounce
plants havel
There is nothing to compare with
them for length and stoutneSs except
the roots of the Hibiscus.
Any one who has ever attempted TO
transplant the Hibiscus. favorite flower
of the South Seas, will remember the
long. tapering roots, thick through and
meaty.
The roots of the Ounce are not so
heavy, but are fully as long. From
these the finer feeding rootlets are
sent forth.
There is a. certain satisfaction to the
gardener in finding such husky root
systems on the plants he sets out.
A matt of fine roots does not strike
him as forcibly as these longer. sturdier
ones, which tell Of a close contact With
the EARTH and a future ability to get
into touch with the universal source
again.
About the whole matter Of root
growth there is a good deal Of confusion
i'm the public mind. and by this mind
We mean the amateur gardening mind,
of course.
Some so-called authorities" advocate
root pruning when setting out new
stock. They say that the fine, hairl1ke
roots are dead anyway and might as
well be cut of. The plant will make
new ones.
Others assert that such pruning Is
harmful. especially with rosebushes.
No one who has set out roses but has
been told, by some one or other, to keep
intact as many of the finer roots as
possible.
Perhaps the truth is that neither root
nor top is so all-important. but That the
proper balance between the Two Is what
will carry q plant or bush through at
transplanting time.
=
Just what this proper balance is must
remain matter for the real horticul-
turist to decide. There are such per-
sons They have knack with flowers,
as we say, but mostly this kr1ack Is
neither good fortune nor knowledge
alone, but sure instinct which the
owner possesses by divine right.
Those of us who are not so gifted
may do a great deal, however, by using
our heads. buying the best plants We
can afford and planting them with due
consideration, as far as we are able to
know them, for the factors OF growth.
We have been told in most of the
garden books and articles to spread out
the roots as well as we can, and not
to cram them into a small hole, but to
dig the hole wide and deep.
Ones common sense tells the gar
dener that there is something in these
instructions. Perhaps roots-such as
the long ones on the japanese Ounce
need not be placed pointing directly
downward. especially in times of
drought, but only in the normal direc-
ton in which they seem to grow.
Some English growers state that trees
should have their roots spread out fiat
wise. and not forced downward at all.
Such shallow planting is not best, how
ever. for most shrubs and perennial
plants.
The biggest point against shallow
planting is not so much the shallow
ness as the careless habits which it In
duces
Unless one takes the trouble to dig
the hole both wide and deep, he will
skinp every process of the planting or
transplanting.
The main consideration, once the
digging has been done properly is to
see to it that the dirt is placed back as
we'll as possible.
This means that it must be packed in
closely without using force, and then
must be made to adhere even closer to
the roots by the use of water.
Most amateurs are afraid Of plants
and handle them too gingerly. But 1t