116 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY, 
young, for fear of dying before he could make use of it; and the 
second would only apply to mixed plantations, which are not 
alluded to here. 
The average distances apart at which the following trees 
are usually planted, are—Scots fir, 2} to 3 feet; larch 3 to 
4 feet; spruce 2 to 4 feet. Hardwoods are usually planted 
at good distances apart, about four times the number required 
for the ultimate crop say, and the intervals filled up with 
coniferous nurses, to 3 or 4 feet apart. The following distances 
oak, 8 feet; ash, 9 feet; elm, 12 feet; beech and 
hornbeam, 6 feet apart, respectively, the distance for oak being 
one-eighth of that of the ultimate crop. Mixed plantations are 
usually planted about 3 feet to 4 feet apart. 
are suitable for 
Planting. 
Planting may be performed at any time during the natural 
suspension of growth, which, in this country, means from 
November to April inclusive. The spring months are preferred 
by many foresters for planting, especially where the ground is at 
all wet, as the roots commence to grow before they have time to 
lose the vitality of the fibrils, which frequently takes place in wet 
soils when the roots have been bruised or broken in lifting. On 
dry, sandy soils, autumn planting usually gives the best results, 
as they are firmly established in the soil before the drought of 
summer commences, and the notches are not so likely to open and 
loosen the plant as when planting is done in the spring. Planting 
should only proceed in fresh, open weather, and never during 
frost or snow. 
For small plants notching is the cheapest and most expedi- 
tious method of planting, and for this the planter should be 
provided with a sharp half-worn garden spade. Inserting his 
spade perpendicularly into the soil, he makes two cuts or notches 
at right angles to each other, shaped like the letter L. He then 
lifts up the corner of the notch so as to allow the roots of the 
plant to be inserted beneath the spade, which is then withdrawn, 
and the soil falls back into its place, covering the roots, and is 
made firm with the heel. The planters should work in extended 
lines, each man taking his distance from his right or left hand 
neighbour, according to the side the leading man is on. Every 
two men should be accompanied by a boy or woman to carry the 
