46 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
sunk full 4 inches into sufficiently large stones, and fixed with 
melted sulphur. 
No proper fence to resist sheep or cattle can be made with 
less than six lines of wire, which should be either of best 
galvanised strand or solid. 
There are also many forms of wire-fences erected on wooden 
posts, which can be erected and kept in repair conveniently and 
at small cost. 
Where rabbits and hares abound, it is necessary to attach 
rabbit-proof wire-netting. This adds to the cost of fencing ; 
but, with wire-netting, two at least of the six lines of wire can be 
dispensed with. 
Draining.—Next comes the draining of the ground. Although 
a certain amount of moisture is necessary for the healthy produc- 
tion of forest trees, yet excess of water is highly detrimental, and 
must be removed by drainage. 
On wet, marshy land, where water lies and turns sour and 
foetid, drainage must be resorted to, as land surcharged with 
stagnant water does not promote the healthy growth and develop- 
ment of plants. Drainage should there be carried out at least 
two years before planting, in order to promote aeration and 
permit rain-water to penetrate into the soil and fertilise it. When 
freely admitted, air and rain-water promote decomposition of the 
mineral and organic substances in the soil, and render them fit 
to be absorbed by the plant-roots. 
There are usually many parts that, with a proper selection 
of the plants, will not require drainage. But where there is 
an excess of moisture, more especially where the ground is flat, 
the water then becomes stagnant and must be removed. 
In laying out the drains, advantage ought to be taken of 
existing water-courses. As these generally follow the lowest parts 
of the ground, they form, if properly scoured, the best leaders or 
mains. ‘The smaller drains may be led into these at any angle, 
provided the fall is not so rapid as to cause the drains to get 
cut up, as is more especially the case if the ground is gravelly. 
It is impossible to lay down any hard-and-fast rule as to 
the number, depth, and division of the drains, as this must 
altogether depend on the nature of the soil and the amount 
of water to be carried off. 
When ground is rendered wet by an excess of water coming 
from a higher source, much benefit can often be derived by a 
