[Illustration:  FIG. 48.  A collection of planting machines.  The large central machine is a grass and grain planter.  The one on the left, a potato planter.  The one on the right, a corn, bean, and pea planter.  The three smaller machines in front are hand seed planters.]

The proper time to transplant fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs is during the fall, winter and early spring, which is their dormant or resting season, as this gives the injured roots a chance to recover and start new rootlets before the foliage of the plant makes demands on them for food and moisture.

In taking up large plants many roots are broken or crushed.  These broken and injured roots should be trimmed off with a smooth cut.  The tree or shrub is then placed in the hole prepared for it and the soil carefully filled in and packed about the roots.  After the plant is set, the top should be trimmed back to correspond with the loss of root.  If the plant is not trimmed, more shoots and leaves will start into growth than the damaged roots can properly furnish with food and water, and the plant will make a weak growth or die.

There are on the market a number of hand transplanting machines which, from their lack of perfection, have not come into general use.  Many of them require more time to operate than is consumed in hand planting.  A number of large machines for transplanting are in successful and satisfactory use on large truck and tobacco farms.  These machines are drawn by horses and carry water for watering each plant as it is set.

Practice transplanting in window boxes or in the open soil and see how many of your plants will survive the operation.

CHAPTER XI

SPADING AND PLOWING

We have learned the important conditions necessary for the sprouting of seeds and for the growth and development of roots.  We have also learned something about the soil, its properties, and its relation to, or its behavior toward these important conditions.  We are therefore prepared to discuss intelligently methods of treating the soil to bring about, or maintain, these conditions.

SPADING THE SOIL

The typical tool for preparing the soil for root growth is a spade or spading fork (Fig. 49).  With this tool properly used we can prepare the soil for a crop better than with any other.

In spading, the spade or fork should be pushed into the soil with the foot the full length of the blade and nearly straight down.  The handle is then pulled back and the spadeful of earth is pried loose, lifted slightly, thrown a little forward, and at the same time turned.  The lumps are then broken by striking them with the blade or teeth of the tool.  All weeds and trash should be covered during the operation.  A common fault of beginners is to put the spade in the soil on a slant and only about half the length