342 Journal of Agriculture, 'Victoria. [lo May, 191 i. 



good results are to be obtained. Otherwise, the cost of continually renew-, 

 ing humus and the liberal use of chemical iertilizers will add consider- 

 r.bly to the cost of production. A locality which should be avoided is one 

 where there is but a few inches of soil overlymg a cold " spewy " cement- 

 like subsoil. 



Preparation of Land. 



If there are any trees to be grubbed upon the selected site, all roots 

 should be followed and cut out not less than 12 inches below the surface. 

 In filling up the holes, the clay or subsoil should be replaced first and 

 the surface soil last. Great care should be exercised in seeing that all 

 bark and roots are gathered ujj and burnt ; as from these the deadly 

 fungus disease. Root Kot {Armiilaria mellea), if present, will spread to the 

 roots of the young trees and cause considerable loss. 



The ground should then be well ploughed about 6 or 8 inches in depth 

 and left lying in fallow throughout the summer. In the meantime, the 

 site should be fenced and made thoroughly rabbit proof ; if not, a single 

 rabbit or hare, or even a dog, may do many pounds' worth of damage in 

 i\ single night amongst nursery stock. The most suitable fence is one 

 where the posts are placed 18 feet apart with two droppers, three wires, 

 and wire netting 4 feet wide, 6 inches of the latter to be placed in the 

 ground. 



In early autumn, if favourable, run a disc roller over the ground ; and 

 plough, with a subsoiler attached, to the depth of a foot, care being taken 

 not to turn up any of the subsoil upon the surface. Then reduce to a fine 

 state with a disc roller j failing this, use an ordinary roller and harrows. 

 If the soil is retentive, undrained, or the district a wet one, a week or so 

 before planting, plough into lands from 18 to 26 feet wide, capable of 

 planting four to six rows of stocks. Care should be taken not to turn up 

 the subsoil. This will allow 4 feet between the rows, a margin of 3 feet 

 upon each side of the outside rows, and give an alley of 6 feet between 

 the lands. 



If the land is well pipe drained, it is not necessary to form into lands, 

 but simply to plant the whole area in a succession of rows. The writer 

 prefers the forming of lands under any conditions. The alleys between 

 the lands sh-^uld be kent ploughed and well worked ; before the winter 

 starts they should be ploughed out, leaving a fairly deep furrow up the 

 centre to carry off all surplus water. If this early opening out is neglected, 

 there is a big chance of the soil becoming water-logged from incessant rains 

 and causing injury to the roots of the young .stock. The planter will have 

 to be guided by his soil and climate, as to the number of rows he plants to 

 a land. 



Drainage. 



Before the later ploughing in the autumn the land should be thoroughly 

 pipe drained. The depth and distance apart of the drains will be con- 

 trolled by the nature and depth of the subsoil. In impervious clays, i.e., 

 clavs which the water cannot readily .soak through, the pipes need only 

 be placed deep enough to drain the surface soil, but will need to be more 

 frequent than when draining land having a loo.se crumbly sub.soil. Place 

 the pipes deeper in this latter class of subsoil. 



In draining land, the pipes should always be laid with the fall, not 

 ao^niiT^t. Care «;h'^uM be taken to .see that the pipes are level and properly 

 joined ; a covering of straw or rush should be placed over the pipes before 

 illlins in. 



