THE ADVANTAGES OF SHELTER-BELTS. IO9 



of shelter-belts, and the margin may be broader on the side 

 exposed to prevailing winds. Not only have they the effect of 

 breaking gales against the conifers, but they also enhance the 

 appearance of plantations generally. 



Where the idea is to provide shelter, as against the production 

 of marketable timber, lateral growth should be encouraged, 

 and suitable thinning will be necessary as the trees develop, 

 because fairly thick planting is generally essential in the first 

 instance. 



Where a methodical system of shelter-belt planting is carried 

 out over a wide district, climatic conditions are appreciably 

 modified, the result being, as formerly mentioned, that stock 

 will thrive and feed better, and crops of all kinds will materially 

 benefit; in fact, the climatic conditions greatly modify the 

 prevailing surface atmosphere, and a corresponding improve- 

 ment is the all-round result. 



Methods of Planting. 



Two systems of planting — pitting and notching — are available. 

 A more rapid development of the trees will result from pitting, 

 but the system is expensive and laborious, and the trees are 

 also more liable to be shaken by gales of wind. Notching is 

 much more rapid, and proves quite satisfactory in ordinary 

 circumstances. Care is necessary in order to have the slit turf 

 firmly trodden down against the roots of the trees, so that no 

 vacuum may be left in which the roots are suspended. It is 

 quite impossible to lay down definite instructions in the matter 

 of planting, so much depends upon the soil, subsoil, character of 

 the surface, size of the plants, etc. On sloping ground the 

 planter should always insert the notching-iron, or spade, facing 

 downhill, and he will thus be better able to make the slits 

 vertical. Notches made out of the perpendicular necessarily 

 incline the plants to lean according to the angle of the slits, 

 and they do not grow so well as when planted vertically. 

 Care must be taken to see that the roots of the plants are not 

 doubled up before treading; this is simply averted by slightly 

 raising the plant in drawing it to the centre of the slit, and again 

 depressing it before treadmg. 



Where pits are dug on a slope the soil should be thrown to 

 the low side, the plants pressed vertically against the low 

 solid side, and the soil packed in from the top; they will thus 



