NOTES AND QUERIES. 325 



with what results. The system of dibbling I propose to adopt, is 

 one I have employed on a large scale in the colonies when money 

 was a scarce commodity, and it was necessary to plant large areas 

 at a minimum cost. The instrument used is a small crowbar, 

 about 3 feet 6 inches long, pointed at one end. This is plunged 

 into the ground, and a small hole of 15 inches, or deeper where 

 possible, is made. The plant is then put in as deep as possible, 

 and then drawn up until the collar is flush with the surface of 

 the ground. The crowbar is then forced into the ground at a 

 point about 12 inches or more away from the plant, and at an 

 angle of 45 degrees, and it is then forced up in the direction of 

 the plant ; this operation being continued until the plant is so 

 firmly fixed that it would require a strong pull to extract it. This 

 second hole is then pressed down with the heel firmly, so as to 

 prevent water lodging. 



The great point for the planter to remember is, that the deeper 

 his hole for the plant, the farther away from the plant must 

 the crowbar be inserted for the firming process, otherwise his 

 plant will be " hung," i.e., the soil will be pressed round the upper 

 portion of the root, and the lower portion will be in a cavity; 

 this cavity would in wet weather fill with water. To carry out 

 this system of "dibbling," it will be necessary to use only seedling 

 plants. Transplanted plants or large plants would have too many 

 lateral roots, and so could not be planted by this method. The 

 only drawback I see to " dibbling " is, that as only plants free 

 from lateral roots are suitable, it is necessary to use comparatively 

 small plants. Where the vegetation is rank, these may either be 

 smothered, or it may become necessary to clear the rank growth 

 round them for the first year or two. This of course means 

 added expense, which must as far as possible be avoided. In 

 case it may be necessary to clear round the plants for the first 

 year or two, I intend to plant in line in the experimental plot I 

 propose planting this year. 



Lining may be an added initial expense, but probably not a 

 serious one. You can easily say what the cost of lining will be, 

 but it is not so easy to state the probable saving that you may 

 make in the future through having your forest lined. The only 

 disadvantage I see in lining is, that it is not beautiful; your 

 forest is too regular. 



The possible savings caused by lining are many. In the first 

 place, you will probably save a good deal of the initial cost in the 



VOL. XVI. PART II. z 



