l68 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCJETY. 



30,000 plants daily. The plants are then subjected to a light 

 root- trimming with ordinary sheep shears, and carefully 

 " puddled " as a protection against draught. 



The lining-out breaks are on an average 3 chains long by 

 2J chains wide. The soil is then thoroughly worked to a 

 depth of 12 ins., by a specially designed plough drawn by 

 two horses. Mr Robinson emphasises the importance of 

 thoroughly preparing the soil. After having been stirred up 

 by the plough, the surface of the soil is levelled and broken 

 up into a fine tilth. The planters then proceed to insert the 

 seedlings along sighted lines by means of a bricklayer's trowel. 

 The best planting distance has, after much experimenting, been 

 found to be 10 ins. between the lines and 2| ins. between the 

 plants in the lines. At this density an acre contains 246,000 

 seedlings with due allowance for borders and centre path. 



As regards the transplanting age and the time the transplants 

 remain in the nursery lines, Mr Robinson says : 



" Amongst the varieties that develop sufficiently for transfer- 

 ence to plantations when two years old may be mentioned larch, 

 Oregon pine, oak, ash, sycamore, birch, alder, acacia, Finns 

 radiata, P. muricata ; whilst an additional year's growth in 

 nursery is usually allowed the slower-growing spruce fir, Sitka 

 spruce, Pinus Laricio, P. austriaca, P. strobus, P. poiiderosa. 

 The adoption of a general planting rule is not rigidly adhered to 

 in connection with the latter-mentioned trees, for at both Hanmer 

 Springs and Ranfurly Nurseries yearling pines are lined-out 

 most successfully, and permitted to occupy the same position for 

 two years ; whilst at Tapanui Nursery greater success is attained 

 by transplanting two-year-old seedlings, and allowing only one 

 season for development before permanent removal. Seedlings 

 are conveyed in shallow boxes direct from the ' heeling-in ' 

 quarter to the planting-ground, and placed in convenient 

 positions there. Every effort is made to conduct the lining-out 

 work with workmen who have previously had special training, 

 as some time must elapse before a casual worker becomes 

 proficient or smart enough to hold his own along the line." 



The labour required to keep the nursery free from weeds varies 

 according to climatic conditions. The drier the season the less 

 labour is involved. In any case Dutch hoeing is carried out 

 between the lines for some weeks after the transplanting has 

 been completed. The author goes on to say that : 



