THE ARBORETUM. 83 



April or the beginning of May, so that they can have a better 

 start in their new position. 



Pitting. — The trees should all be planted in pits that have 

 been opened some time before, to allow the soil to become 

 broken up and sweetened by the action of frost. These pits 

 should be large enough to admit of the roots being placed 

 in a natural position all round the plant, not cramped and 

 bent about to fit the hole. The soil at the bottom of the pits 

 should be loosened down to a fair depth, and the tree planted not 

 more than half an inch deeper than it stood in the nursery lines. 

 This half-inch allows for a little subsidence of the soil. Trees 

 planted too deeply never thrive. A stout stake should be driven 

 in to support each tree, and to prevent the wind blowing 

 it about, and thus letting air down to the roots to dry 

 them. 



Manuring. — In a close-grown plantation the trees provide 

 their own food. As the sun cannot get in to dry the leaves, and 

 so make them easily blown away by the winds, they die on 

 the ground and rot, gradually forming a thick layer of humus, 

 from which the trees draw a supply of nutriment. But when 

 the trees are planted many yards apart (even when the spaces 

 are filled with light-foliaged trees, such as the birch) the sun 

 and wind have free access, and the leaves are blown away, thus 

 depriving the trees of their natural food. This food should be 

 replaced. The leaves can be raked together and mixed with 

 road scrapings or any waste soil, or even the remains of a spent 

 frame, and made into a compost. This should be left for at 

 least two years before being applied, having been turned 

 occasionally and sprinkled lightly with lime to hasten decom- 

 position. Some of this might be added to the soil when the 

 trees are first planted, and some might afterwards be used as a 

 top-dressing. There is no need to supply a great quantity each 

 year, but it should be dug in round the trees to the depth of 

 2 or 3 inches. This will help the trees considerably. Artificial 

 manures, too, are often used. Basic slag, kainite and sulphate of 

 ammonia are all good for the purpose, or if the soil be deficient 

 in lime for the requirements of any particular tree, ground 

 limestone could be applied. 



Fencing. — If the park is grazed by sheep or cattle a fence 

 would be a necessity round each group. This could be eithei 

 of iron and wire, which is the least noticeable, or a rustic fence 



