10 Ai'Kii,, 1!>19.] Fear (jioiving in Victoria. 215 



Thus it is necessary, when establishing the root-bed for trees, to see 

 rhat both the surface and the subsoil are in a proper physical condition, 

 which is far more important than their mere richness in plant food, as 

 any deficiency in this respect can be easily remedied subsequently. 



Method of Breaking up the Soil. — During winter, owing to seasonal 

 rains and the slow evaporation of moisture, the soil is in a suitable condi- 

 tion for the deep primary ploughing and subsoiling. The land should 

 be broken up deeply according to the depth of the surface soil. A depth 

 of 5 or 6 inches will probably be sufficient, but it may be necessary to 

 plough deeper if the depth of the surface soil requires it. 



Occasionally, a hard substratum, commonly known as hardpan, will 

 be found to exist, and unless it be broken up, will prove an impenetrable 

 barrier to the roots of fruit trees, debarring them from entering the sub- 

 soil, thus causing superficial root ramification and consequent partial 

 starvation of trees, as shown in plate No. 16. With proper soil prepara- 

 tion, this obstruction to growth of trees is removed. 



After the work of primary ploughing is completed, attention should 

 be given to subsoiling of land. If a proper subsoil plough is available, 

 this implement should be used, as it does the work in a more satisfactory 

 way than the improvised implement often used for the purpose — an 

 ordinary single-furrow plough with the mouldboard removed. The 

 latter, however, may be used, but the deep stirring of subsoil will thus 

 be necessarily limited as compared with the work of a subsoil plough. 



Care is required in the work of subsoiling not to bring any of the 

 sour soil to the surface, the ideal method being to stir it well and deeply, 

 and allow it to remain in its natural position. 



Sometimes it will be found, especially in places where the soil is of 

 a shaly nature, that the rock is very near the surface. "Where such is 

 the case, the only method of dealing with it is by blasting. The use of 

 gelignite in small quantities (generally one plug to each hole) is effective 

 in fracturing the rock sufficiently to allow of the escape of surplus water. 

 Such formations usually exist on hillsides, and the work should be done 

 along the slope of the land, a charge being placed in each hole about 

 6 to 8 feet apart in the rows, so that the fracture may extend from hole 

 to hole, and thus prevent pockets for water being formed which would 

 be doing more harm than good to the trees. The rows should be 20 feet 

 apart. 



If the land to be planted is in a virgin state, it is not advisable to 

 plant the trees the year that the ground is broken up. This is often 

 done, but generally to the detriment of young trees. Such land is, as 

 a rule, naturally sour, and often harsh and lumpy, and if not turned up 

 and exposed to the ameliorating influence of atmospheric agency, sun- 

 light, &c., will not prove suitable to produce a thrifty growth in the 

 young trees. Not only would the growth of trees be adversely affected, 

 but the work of thorough soil preparation, if attempted subsequently, 

 would be difficult to perform, owing to the presence of trees in the soil. 



To plant young trees in sour, unprepared soil is, in most instances, 

 a case of " More haste, less speed," for if the trees were planted twelve 

 months later in soil ameliorated and physically and chemically improved 

 by weathering and working, they would more than make up by their 

 vigour the time lost in jilanting. 



