128 RliPOET ON THE MANAGEMENT AND VALUE OF POPLAK. 



the root bears to the top, aud by means of a sharp, clean-cutting 

 knife, reduce the latter within due proportions. This often saves 

 the tree from the effect of the wind, and may be done without 

 either injuring or disfiguring the tree, which ill a short time, by 

 new shoots, repairs its defects. 



The methods of planting poplar are similar to those of plant- 

 ing other trees of the hardwood class, and need not be adverted 

 to beyond what relates to the ground into which they are 

 planted. 



The writer superintended the planting of a field in the county 

 of Sussex, performed as follows : — The field was prepared for 

 planting after a recent crop of wheat, and ploughed and har- 

 rowed, which cost 15s. per acre. The operation of planting was 

 commenced by stretching a line from top to bottom of the field, 

 beginning at the east side, and removing the line and working 

 backwards, so that the line, on removal to the next row, did not 

 require lifting over the planted trees. In this instance the object 

 of planting was a crop of wood for hop-poles, not for timber ; 

 but it serves to illustrate the method of planting for the latter 

 object, the only difference between the two being the distance of 

 the trees from each other — those planted for hop-poles being put 

 in at 4 feet apart each way, those for timber being planted 8^ 

 feet from each other. 



Where profit is the sole object of planting, and the soil clayey, 

 three rows of beans may be planted between the trees the first 

 year, two rows of potatoes the second year, and two rows of 

 turnips the third, after which, if the trees are vigorous, grass 

 seeds may be sown, and the herbage cut with the scythe once or 

 twice a-year. This latter treatment may continue till the plan- 

 tation is eight years old, when it may be grazed during summer 

 with Cheviot or Leicester sheep, care being taken to remove them 

 before the pasture is eaten bare, as otherwise they might injure 

 the trees. 



Again, where ornament or beauty is the object sought, some 

 conspicuous place should be selected for planting. The ground 

 should be planted after a crop of turnips has been eaten off by 

 sheep, and it has been ploughed, harrowed, and rendered smooth 

 and even. Grass and clover seeds having been sown in it, the 

 grass should be cut twice a-year, and carried out fr,om amongst 

 the trees in sheets. 



Where quick growth is the primary object, it is best promoted 

 by continuous hoeing and loosening of the earth amongst the 

 roots of the trees, care being taken to iuse such implements as 

 may not injure the roots, such as the steel grape and borebill. 



Old lea or pasture land, where the turf is thick and matted, is 

 frequently selected for planting. In this case the turf requires 

 paring off around the space where the tree is planted, which 



