152 J. J. Koize 



ments of a number of trees, and it must be left to planters to 

 endeavour to fit the requirements of the trees to the conditions 

 obtaining on the areas it is desired to afforest or to consult the 

 nearest Forest Officer in order to obtain special advice. Trees 

 growing in the vicinity are very useful in affording evidence as to 

 which species have already found the factors of the locality to 

 their liking, and their growth and general appearance will serve 

 as an excellent guide. 



Operations Necessary to the Formation of a 

 Plantation. 



1. Preparation of a Planting Plan. 



If the planting scheme be of any extent it is very necessary 

 that a clearly defined modus operandi be drawn up. Haphazard 

 planting is of little avail, and usually leads to a great deal of 

 trouble later on. A detailed examination of every part of the 

 area to be planted, a rough survey and the construction of a map 

 on which should be shown a complete system of compartments, 

 roads, nurseries, buildings, etc., for the most convenient and 

 economic future working of the scheme, the proposed protective 

 measures to be adopted against fire or cold winds, the allocation 

 of species to each compartment according to soil, aspect and 

 elevation, the regulation of espacements, directions as to the order 

 in which planting should proceed and numerous other details 

 should all be included in the plan. 



2. Fencing. 



Planting unfenced areas avails little, and this protective mea- 

 sure against stock, etc., should be carried out before a single tree 

 is put in. 



3. Preparation of the Ground, 



Experience in South Africa has demonstrated that an entire 

 and thorough preparation of the soil is essential. In the summer 

 rainfall areas new ground should be broken up by ploughing, or 

 by picking where ploughing is not possible, in late summer before 



