FOREST-TREE GROWING IN THE SOUTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND. 167 



tap-roots is attributed largely to a system of wrenching, which is 

 performed by two employees, who are provided with specially 

 sharpened spades. Each man stands on opposite sides of the 

 drill being lifted, and by brisk foot-pressure drives the spade full 

 depth at such an angle as will cleanly cut the roots near the 

 extremity. By a gentle leverage on the spade-handles the soil 

 containing plants is slightly raised, and on withdrawing the tools 

 the crevices formed on each side are closed by tramping. This 

 operation is usually conducted in the early autumn, so that 

 suflficient time is given plants to recuperate ; and transplantation 

 is facilitated by the consequent formation of numerous fibrous 

 rootlets in place of straight tap-roots." 



In the three nurseries, namely, Tapanui, Ranfurly and Hanmer 

 Springs, there are annually transferred to the nursery lines 

 approximately 3,750,000 seedlings. As this operation has to be 

 completed during the months of September and October by 

 36 employees, it is quite evident that the work must be done on 

 a well-organised system. In describing the methods of lifting 

 and lining-out the author goes on to say : 



" Various rudimentary principles are generally acknowledged 

 in dealing with the different kinds of trees raised, but the precise 

 method chosen is regulated according to the vigour of seedlings. 

 Such trees as larch, Oregon pine, oak, sycamore, walnut, chest- 

 nut, alder, ash, and some of the quick-growing pines — Pimis 

 radiata, Pinus muricata, Pinus Torreyana, Pinus Betithamiana — 

 are usually transplanted into lines when one year old, whilst it is 

 customary to allow the less speedy growers — Pinus Laricio, 

 P. strobus, P. austriaca, Picea excelsa, P. siichensis — an additional 

 year's development in beds before lifting. The simplicity in 

 propagating and the comparative hardiness of Pinus radiata 

 render it possible to raise these trees to a sufficiently strong state 

 for permanent planting at ten months old. The young plants 

 are carefully removed from the seed-beds during the latter part of 

 summer, and lined out in the manner outlined below ere the 

 advent of spring. The young pines have then become sturdier 

 and possess a well-formed root-system. It is, of course, possible 

 after a series of judicious wrenching to put the young pines out 

 to the plantation direct from the seed-beds, but a big death-rate 

 is usually the outcome in thus operating on exposed areas." 



Before being lined-out the seedlings are assorted in groups ot 

 two or three sizes, one workman being able to assort 20,000 to 



