Cjiltural First Principles. 463 



It should be borne in mind that the roots of conifers do not pene- 

 trate so far as those of hard woods. 



2, Plovghinrj, Trenching, and Picking. — Of these, of course, trenching 

 is the most expensive, picking the least so, I am inclined to agree 

 with ]\Ir. Bayne as to ploughing to a depth of fifteen or eighteen 

 inches, as against the opinion of Brown, that it has an over-stimulat- 

 ing effect, rendering timber softer and shorter lived. I doubt if this 

 can be proved to be the case. Where the soil is shallow, owing to 

 the existence of a pan, the latter must, if possible, be broken up, and 

 trenching may be necessary for effectually doing so ; but I cannot 

 think ]Mr. Bayne would advocate its general adoption in planting for 

 timber on a large scale, with proper sized nursery plants. The utility 

 of trenching, in the case mentioned in the letter in the Journal of 

 Forestry for October, from " The Squire's Old Gardener," may have 

 depended on the stiffness of some of the ground, and the stone- 

 pan in other parts, though I by no means deny the protection 

 from scorching or freezing afforded to very young trees by a previous 

 preparation of the soil. I am, however, inclined to believe that 

 ploughing eighteen inches deep is all that is generally necessary. 

 From the discussion in this Journal it seems as if " tonite " may be 

 safely asserted to be, on the whole, the best explosive for general use, 

 from its strength, cheapness, and safety, in clearing land of boulders, 

 tree-roots, &c. ; and I think " Experience " is probably right in recom- 

 mending the use of electricity for exploding it, at least where the area 

 is of any extent. I believe the Leclanche battery is the most econo- 

 mical. 



From the fact stated in my last paper, that the greater part of the 

 lime, silica, potash, soda, magnesia, and phosphorus is returned 

 annually to the soil by the falling leaves and fruit, I am inclined to 

 agree with Brown that, when once the most suitable species for the 

 soil has been fixed on, rotation is hardly worth considering. This is 

 only true, however, where leaves and fruit are left to natural decay, 

 and where the function of a rotation is in part fulfilled by letting 

 cleared land lie fallow, that is, exposed to the " weathering " influence 

 of the atmosphere, as Brown recommends, for four or five years. 

 Land should be ploughed before being left as fallow. The natural 

 manuring of decaying leaves and weathering is all that is advisable 

 economically or physiologically for timber. In this I quite agree 

 with Brown's opinion, that all else is a harmful temporary excite- 

 ment of the young trees, only tending to render their timber 

 ill-matured. 



