354 SYMTA AMERICANA. 



fully employed. Before laying the plants out on the spots where 

 they are to be planted, it is a most useful practice to dip the 

 roots in water, or in a puddle made of water and rich mould. In 

 planting on a confined scale, the plants may be distributed as before, 

 and two workmen may proceed to open the pits on the spots. As 

 soon as the hole is opened, one of the operators places the roots 

 of the plant in the hole, while the other with his spade finishes 

 the process as above directed. By this method the holes can be 

 made proportionate to the size of the roots of the different plants, 

 which, when of various species, are oftentimes also of different 

 sizes. When circumstances warrant the previous preparation of 

 the soil necessary to this mode of planting, it should be adopted, 

 as being the most perfect and effective. 



Furrow planting is performed by opening a furrow with the 

 trenching plough, or with two common ploughs ; the one succeed- 

 ing the other in the same trench or furrow, and opening it to the 

 depth to be required by the roots of the trees. The roots being 

 placed in the furrow at the proper distances, the workman with 

 the spade finds no difficulty in obtaining the necessary quantity 

 of pulverized soil to complete the work. This mode of planting 

 has been practised with success on the Duke of Bedford's estates 

 in Bedfordshire, and in Buckinghamshire in the neighborhood of 

 Woburn, England. The implement employed was a very strong 

 plough, drawn by six horses, and opening a furrow from twelve 

 to sixteen inches deep, turning the sward or heath over on each 

 side. This was followed by a scuffler or grubber of three tines, 

 which completely stirred and pulverized the soil. On light land 

 eight acres a day was done in this way, but the soil must be light 

 and free from large stones or other obstructions. 



That extensive and valuable plantations have been made 

 by slit planting, there are abundant proofs, and on elevated, thin, 

 light soils incumbent on rock, or where trenching cannot be ef- 

 fected or the furrow plough be used, this mode may be adopted 

 with economy and success. Before planting by this method, 

 however, it is essential to know the precise nature of the subsoil, 

 and that there does not exist a hardened stratum, impervious to 

 water, beneath the surface, which frequently happens in heaths, 



