PKEPARING GROUND FOR PLAXTIXG. 47 



in the way commonly termed moor- burning. This by 

 law can only be done between the ist of November 

 and 1 1 th of April, and for this purpose advantage 

 should be taken to have the ground burned when in a 

 dry and proper state 



One of the most serious obstacles to contend with in 

 planting is that of clearing the ground of whins, and 

 preventing them from growing up and choking the 

 plants, for it is to be regretted that whins, whether 

 cut or burnt, spring up and grow faster than the young 

 plants ; and it is the universal complaint that ground 

 that produces whins, and is equally capable of producing 

 a good crop of forest trees, seldom or never does so. 



After trying various methods of growing trees 

 amongst whins, and all of them proving less or more a 

 failure, I am prepared to recommend the practice of 

 line or row planting as the best. The manner of doing 

 this is to trench, or at least clear off the whins in 

 strips two feet broad and six feet apart, and in the 

 trenched lines plant the trees closely in a zigzag 

 manner at from one and a half to two feet apart. By 

 this method the space between the rows of trees is 

 easily cut by means of bill-hooks or short whin scythes 

 without incurring any risk of cutting the trees, whilst 

 the whins in the line of trees can at comparatively 

 small expense be kept clear of them till they fairly 

 rise above them. 



Having considered the various means practicable 

 for improving the soil and rendering it more suitable 

 for the reception and growth of forest trees, there 



