26 THE MANAGEMENT OF PLANTATIONS [Nov. 



The chief portion of the Liiul is over the new freestone formation, 

 and is not elevated more than 150 to 200 feet above sea-level, the 

 soil on the whole being well adapted for the growth of timber. 

 The plantations, therefore, generally are of a mixed description of 

 trees, the best of the land being planted with oak, ash, elm, sycamore, 

 larch, silver fir, Scotch and spruce fir, witli a few lime, maple, horse 

 and Spanish chestnut trees. The peaty or black-topped land has 

 always been planted with Scotch and spruce fir and birch. 



In the planting of young forest trees, there are two methods 

 adopted on this property. I generally have pits cut 12 to 14 inches 

 square and 12 inches deep for all the larger- rooted hardwood trees. 

 The other method is employed for small-rooted hardwoods and the 

 fir tribe, and is what is termed notching, or making a slit with a 

 spade in the shape of a letter T, a plan which is so well understood 

 and answers so well that it seems superfluous to enlarge upon it 

 here. I have found February and March the best months for 

 planting. If the weather be moist and clear of frost, it is important 

 to finisli the operation as expeditiously as possible, securing the best 

 description of trees from the nearest and best nurseries in the 

 district, so that the roots do not get injured by a long transit in dry 

 or frosty weather. I have been fortunate in having trees lifted in 

 the nurseries one day and planted the next, so that they never felt 

 the change to any perceptible extent, and their success has been all 

 that could be desired. The trees when planted stand 3 to 3^ feet 

 apart over all, and the cost has not usually exceeded £b per acre. 

 It, however, happens that where hares and rabbits are numerous, the 

 work of the forester is often sadly marred by having great numbers 

 of the trees peeled or their leading top eaten through, to the loss of 

 the proprietor and the disparagement of the plantation. Such being 

 the case, many remedies have been devised to prevent the destruction, 

 in the shape of smearing or dipping the trees in a non-poisonous 

 composition, which certainly had the effect of preserving the trees 

 from further mutilation for twelve months or so. But after the 

 composition, from the action of the frost and rains, becomes washed 

 off, the renewal of the smearing becomes a laborious and expensive 

 operation. I have tried the above-named plan, but from experience 

 I cannot recommend its use to any extent. The plan I now adopt 

 is to enclose the ground with galvanized rabbit-proof wire netting, 

 which should be not less tlian 3 feet wide in the web, and not more 

 than 1^ inch mesh. This wire netting may to some seem altogetlier 

 a superfluous cost to planting operations, but it may safely be relied 

 upon as being the best remedy. This I can testify, having used it 

 for many years, and I am satisfied that the cost of the wire is saved 

 the first year by the preservation of the trees. After the trees have 



