FORMATION OF PLANTATIONS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. 175 
of a free, light soil. Possessed of a home nursery well stocked 
with the necessary plants in their various stages of development, 
the forester has an opportunity of subjecting them to such a course 
of treatment as he considers essential to secure their success when 
planted out. Towards this end it will be found to be greatly to 
the advantage of hardwoods to have them transplanted and carefully 
root-pruned about eighteen months previous to planting out. ‘To 
secure good, healthy, well-rooted plants, specially adapted to the 
various situations they are designed to occupy, is one of the most 
important conditions for the successful formation of a young planta- 
tion. In selecting, soil, elevation, exposure, and local demand must 
be the main considerations. Some plants thrive in situations that 
would prove certain death to others ; hence the necessity for careful 
discrimination as to the nature of the various plants, and their 
adaptation to given situations and conditions. If we put very 
small plants on low-lying situations where vegetation is rank and 
strong, the herbage soon gains the mastery, overgrowing them, and 
cutting off their essential supply of air and light, thus preventing 
them from discharging their proper functions. Again, if we place 
plants of a large size on a situation that is elevated and exposed, 
the transition to such a situation from one of more temperate and 
genial conditions, if it does not kill them outright, at least gives 
them a very severe check. Further, when we come to consider the 
matter of suitability of soil in making a selection, we find that some 
plants luxuriate in places where others would either not grow at all or 
thrive but indifferently. Many of our forest trees are very accom- 
modating as to soil, though, as a rule, they each require a particular 
soil and conditions to attain to their most perfect development. On 
a low-lying situation, sheltered, and soil consisting of a rich dry 
loam, most hardwoods will succeed. Oak, however, is partial to a 
heavy soil ; so also is ash, if the soil is of a moist nature. On the 
other hand larch, beech, Scots fir, and birch are more partial to soils 
of a light nature. For deep mossy ground Scots fir and birch are 
best adapted ; and for moist or wet soils, spruce, poplar, lme-tree, 
alder, and birch are the most suitable. 
Draining.—The thorough drainage of a young plantation is an 
indispensable condition for the successful raising of a timber crop. 
On the question of the depth to which woodland drains should be 
cut, different opinions are held. Some maintain that from 3 feet to 
4 feet, according to the nature of the soil, is the proper depth, 
while others hold that drains cut to the depth of 18 to 24 
