ARBORICULTURE. 



349 



lie waste, which otherwise might have been covered with profita- 

 ble plantations. Well-regulated economy in the expense, or first 

 outlay, is one of the principles of the art important to be attended 

 to in practice. Accordingly it is not surprizing to find some 

 modes of planting invented, and 'others misapplied, under the 

 mistaken impression of furthering this principle, at the serious 

 risk of retarding the healthy growth and prosperity of the trees, 

 and of producing results completely subversive of the intention. 



The great object of transplanting trees from seed beds, layer 

 stools, cutting grounds, &c. to nursery rows, or beds previous to 

 their final transplantation for good, is to increase the number of 

 fibres and rootlets ; and, by ensuring the free uninterrupted 

 formation of healthy stems and buds, to lay the foundation of a 

 vigorous constitution in each individual plant before it be finally 

 transplanted to its timber site. 



The different modes of planting trees on their timber sites are 

 denominated, first, slit planting ; second, holing or pitting ; third, 

 trench planting ; fourth, furrow planting. There are also varie- 

 ties of these characterized by the instruments" or tools used for 

 inserting the roots of the plants into the soil. 



Slit planting is the most simple mode, and is practised on 

 soils in their natural state, without any preparation of holing, 

 ploughing or trenching. It is performed by three different kinds 

 of instruments : viz. by the moor planter, (Plate 108 a), by the 

 diamond dibble (6), and by the common garden spade. 



a 



PLATE CVIII. 



1st. The moor planter (a) is a heavy instrument, consisting of 

 a wooden shaft and handle two feet nine inches in length, termi- 

 nated by a single slightly curved prong of well tempered iron or 

 steel fifteen inches in length, two and a half inches broad at the 



