Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 152, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1915 — In Setting Plants. [ARTICLE]

In Setting Plants.

In setting any kind of plants make sure that the roots are well spread out. The most important thing Is to bring the soil into as close contact with the roots as possible. The root can take no moisture from the soil In a natural condition until the soil is so close to the root that capillary water flows from the water film around the soil particles to the root We water newly set plants for two purposes. 1. To keep alive the plant till it can get to taking in water naturally, without the help of water artificially supplied. 2. To wash the earth particles more closely about the roots and so help bring about an early contact of the roots with the soil. Some do not know this and try purposely to leaye' the soil as light about the roots as possible, thinking the roots can thus penetrate it easier. The penetrating power of roots is beyond the calculation of most people. Roots will go wherever there Is food, moisture and air, no matter how firmly the soil may be packed. Corn roots are frequently found four feet below the surface,, having passed through layers of earth very firm and which, of course, had never been disturbed by the plow.