

216 



or wider and deeper if necessary, should be dug at intervals of 

 from 12 to 20 ft., parallel with the natural slope of the land. 

 In the case of wet and sour peat, drains should be opened about 



6 ft. apart. They should 



deep, 



the peat being removed in large blocks and laid upside down 



on the margins of the drains to sweeten; occasional wider and 



deeper drains may be required. From 4 to 6 months afterwards, *4 



a young tree may be planted in the centre of each turf, taking 



ca 



A little basic slag may be mixed with the soil at the time. By 

 the time the young trees have filled the upturned and inverted 

 sod with roots, the upper or drained portion of the peat bed 

 will have become sufficiently sweetened by drainage and the 

 admission of air for the roots to enter. When cutting drains 

 and arranging planting positions in this way the men should 

 work in pairs, otherwise, for convenience, they are inclined to 

 cut the peat out in small sections which are unsuitable for the 

 subsequent reception of plants. As a rule the turves are so 

 arranged that the plants can be placed about 3 ft. apart. 

 Vacancies caused by the death of young trees must be filled at 

 an early opportunity. Should a hard pan of clay or gravel 

 occur a little below the surface of the ground it must be broken 

 up during the preparatory work. 



All ground that is to be planted with trees must be provided 

 with a sheep- and rabbit-proof fence, otherwise the young trees 

 will probably be eaten off soon after they are planted. 



in a favourably situated part of 

 the area selected for planting should be set apart for a nursery. 

 The ground must be trenched, manured, and properly cultivated* 

 Any ground not required for immediate use might be planted 

 with potatoes, turnips or some other crop. Shelter must be 

 provided by a wall or by a good hedge of Veronica, Gorse or 

 some other subject; one or two cross hedges would also be an 

 advantage. The seeds should be sown in beds 4 ft. wide and 



A.n acre or two of ground 



any convenient length, separated by paths 15 in. wide, advan- 

 tage being taken of the earliest dry days of spring to carry 

 out the work. When the young plants are about 3 in. high 

 they must be transplanted into nursery lines 12 in. apart and 

 2 to 4 in. between the plants. In this position they will remain 

 until 6 or 9 in. high. Any trees that can be increased by 

 cuttings, such as Willows or Poplars, may be started in the 

 nursery or in the places the trees are to occupy. Stock plants 

 ought, however, to be kept for cuttings so that trees in 

 permanent positions could be left untouched. 



When the young trees are from 6-9 in. high they should be 



placed 



and spaced from 3-4 ft. apart, 



according to the nature of the soil and the species. They must 

 be lifted carefully so that all the roots are preserved, and during 

 planting, if the ground has not been previously worked, care 



mu 



spread out to their full extent. Care must also be taken to keep 

 the upper roots near the surface of the soil. _ 



um 



spring are the best times for planting tree--. Probably autumn 



