282 On the Planting of Forest-Trees. 



wide at the insertion of the iron stem, which is 7| inches long^, 

 terminated byj a wood cross-handle. The marker having pre- 

 ceded and marked the ground by a cross incision, a man and boy 

 or woman follow ; the man strikes the dibble into the ground, so 

 as by depressing the handle the earth opens at the cross-cut made 

 by the marker, the plant is immediately inserted, and the roots 

 carefully straightened and spread by the attendant, and the man 

 fixes it with his heel. One man carrying the plants in a bag 

 before him sometimes performs the whole, but it must be evident 

 that the plan prescribed above will ensure the work being better 

 executed, and with much greater regularity. One well-instructed 

 boy or woman would mark for two or three planters. By means 

 of the dibble the late Duke of Athol (a name that should never 

 be mentioned without respect) planted very extensive ranges of 

 the Grampians with larch, and, he says in his memoranda, with 

 scarcely any failure of the plants, which, together with their sub- 

 sequent prosperous growth, has proved it to be at once a most 

 economical and effectual method in such districts. 



In lower situations, and on the sands and soft soils of the 

 secondary and more recent strata of the south, where the plants 

 would have to contend with broom, fern, and furze, the plants 

 are generally left in the nursery until they are from 12 to 18 

 inches high. Larch are, for the most part, sufficiently tall after 

 standing one year in the lines, while Scotch and spruce require 

 at least two years from the time of being transplanted. In such 

 situations and with plants of this size, the best method of planting 

 is by previously making holes for their reception in the following 

 manner : — The spots having been marked for each plant, the 

 digger pares off the turf about one inch and a half thick over a 

 space of about 1 5 inches diameter, turns the turf down upon its 

 face, and divides it in two equal parts, takes out some of the earth, 

 and loosens up that in the hole to the depth of 6 or 8 inches. 

 The planter follows, and with a small adze- like tool, with a short 

 wooden handle, prepares the ground for the reception of the 

 plant, deposits it carefully with its roots spread, draws the earth 

 Avhich had been thrown out over them, and then pulls together 

 the severed and inverted turf so as to embrace the plant with 

 the line of junction crossing the prevailing winds, or from 

 north to south, taking care at the same time that the plant, 

 when confirmed by the foot, shall not be set deeper than it stood 

 in the nursery. In this method, if the holes be dug some weeks 

 or even months before planting, the young trees will have a 

 much better chance of success, owing to the aeration of the 

 soil from the previous exposure. The expense of digging such 

 holes varies from 6c/. to \0d. per hundred, as where the soil is 

 strong the pickaxe must be used to loosen it up, and this, with 



