38 TRANSACTION'S OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the lake, and is consequently very rough and broken. Plant- 

 ing at the rate of 100 acres per annum is being carried on 

 over the ground lying between the lake and the 1500 feet 

 contour. 



I will now describe the method of planting adopted as that 

 which has been found to be most suitable under our existing 

 circumstances. Most of the planting area is covered with a 

 thick growth of brackens, which, in order to check their growth, 

 are repeatedly mown down while they are green and before 

 they have made their full season's growth, during the two 

 summer seasons previous to planting. This treatment of them 

 is generally found to be effective. 



During the first year after planting, if the brackens still persist 

 in growing, they can easily be knocked down with a stick before 

 their leaves begin to uncurl. By using a stick nistead of a 

 sickle the danger of cutting any of the young trees is obviated, 

 and the work is much more quickly and more economically done. 

 Where necessary, the land to be planted is also enclosed with 

 a substantial wire fence during the summer previous to planting. 

 Fencing in of high and exposed situations is best done during 

 the summer months, as better weather conditions may then 

 be expected, and the men employed can put in a full working 

 day. If this work be left over till winter it may cost quite 

 douVjle the amount that it would have cost if done in the 

 summer. It is good policy to make the enclosed area as large 

 as possible, as the cost of fencing, per acre of ground enclosed, 

 is thus reduced to a minimum. But on Thirlmere, owing to 

 consideration of the grazing requirements of the tenant farmers, 

 it has not so far been found advisable to plant more than about 

 100 acres in one block. 



Planting is carried on by a combination of pitting and 

 notching — by notching into prepared pits; this is done with 

 what are locally termed "planting mattocks," which are a 

 combination of jjick and mattock, one end being diamond 

 pointed and the opposite end flattened out to about 2 inches 

 in width. The turf is first pared off with the flattened end ot 

 the mattock, the pointed end being then used for loosening up 

 the soil ; and, should the ground be full of bracken roots, 

 the flattened end is again brought into use to break them up. 

 The turf and any stones turned out of the pits are left on the 

 lower edge of the pit, to form a trap for snow and water. After 



