226 EDITORS BOX. [Jan., 



after all ? for I would take it that they are to be taken from the 

 poorest soils of the plantation, and withal will not be, 1 suppose, 

 very healthy, nor for that reason very iit subjects to plant anywhere. 



In planning roads through woods it is most important to place them 

 in such a manner as to necessitate the least possible expenditure, and 

 moreover to absorb the smallest possible amount of making : this is, of 

 course, subordinate to sufficiency. Eoads, wood-roads, should not cost 

 anything like £200 per mile if judiciously planned ; and roads can 

 never be more judiciously planned than previous to the planting of 

 the ground. 



On uplands roads should run along the broad side of hills, 

 never perpendicularly to the slope ; and if cross-roads are indispens- 

 able — which they may be, either as shooting rides or as more 

 suitable means of easy transit of the crop — these cross-ways should lie 

 obliquely to the steep, with a bias of not more than thirty degrees. 



Another reason why roads should be left unplanted at the period of 

 planting is that most proprietors take pleasure in riding or walking 

 through their woods ; and the forester who does not anticipate such 

 a thing is rather blind to the general desire of most woodland pro- 

 prietors. The best time for the making of such roads may be a subject 

 of contention ; but, in my view, the l)est time for such operation is at 

 any time during the series of thinnings, which is the consequent of 

 planting. In the time of snow or much rain, when men could not 

 thin in young plantations in bad weather, how approximate is a 

 necessary part of forest work that might be advantageously and 

 economically advanced. 



But this matter of forest roads would exhaust greater discussion 

 than space or time allows. And, in conclusion, I may be permitted 

 to express an opinion concerning planting without particularizing. In 

 brief, \vherever there is superabundance of herbage, of heath, grass, 

 or any other vegetation, it is cheapest and best to get plants to suit 

 the conditions. On heath land, if the heather be burned from four 

 to six years before planting, planters will find such land in the best 

 possible state for planting; and on rough grassy land, strong plants 

 with good fibrous roots are doubtless best, and best economy. 



ISylvestkis. 



Sir, — In answer to 'Loanleah's' letter, on page 148 of your last issue, 

 in reference to 3Ir. Scott's instructions as to paring off the surface of 

 grassy ground before the plants are inserted, I have no doubt that 

 all experienced foresters will agree with ]\Ir. Scott. The principal 

 reason, as I think, in favour of paring, not only grassy, but also 



