PLANTING. 



35 



numerous instances, from the same cause, great and unnecessary 

 expenses have been incurred, only to result in a total failure of the 

 plantation, with the consequent loss of time and property. Instances 

 illustrative of these points have been too frequent in the management of 

 the forest lands of the Crown, (which ought to shew an example of practical 

 planting worthy of imitation by the community,) as well as on private 

 estates, to require to be cited here. Well regulated economy in the expense, 

 or first outlay, is one of the principles of the art important to be attended 

 to in practice. Accordingly it is not surprising to find some modes of 

 planting invented, and others misapplied, under the mistaken impression 

 of furthering this principle, at the serious risk of retarding the healthy 

 growth and prosperity of the trees, and of producing results completely 

 subversive of the intention. 



The great object of transplanting trees from seed-beds, layer-stools, 

 cutting grounds, &c. to nursery rows, or beds previous to their final trans- 

 plantation for good, is to increase the number of fibres and rootlets ; and, 

 by ensuring the free uninterrupted formation of healthy stems and buds, to 

 lay the foundation of a* vigorous constitution in each individual plant before 

 it be finally transplanted to its timber site. 



The different modes of planting trees on their timber sites are denomi- 

 nated, first, slit-planting ; second, holing or pitting ; third, trench-plant- 

 ing ; fourth, furrow-planting. There are also varieties of these characterised 

 by the instruments or tools used for inserting the roots of the plants into 

 the soil. 



Slit planting is the most simple mode, and is practised on soils in their 

 natural state without, any preparation of holing, ploughing, or trenching. 

 It is performed by three different kinds of instruments : viz. by the moor 

 planter (fig. 6. a), by the diamond dibble (6), and by the .common 

 garden spade. 



" r. 6. 



1st. The moor planter (a) is a heavy instrument, consisting of a wooden 

 shaft and handle two feet nine inches in length, terminated by a single 

 slightly curved prong of well tempered iron or steel fifteen inches in 

 length, two and a half inches broad at the insertion of the shaft, and 

 [gradually tapering to the point. The handle is made sufficiently large to 

 jbe grasped 'by both hands, and the operator with one stroke drives the 

 prong into the ground to the depth required for seedling trees, and by 

 depressing the handle, the point of the instrument raises up the earth, 

 Heaving a vacuity or opening in loose earth, into which a person, holding 

 la plant in readiness, places the root, and with the foot fixes it in the soil. 

 {A. stout active workman with this instrument, and the aid of a boy, will 

 |ransplant a greater number of seedling trees on light moor soils than by 

 my other method at present known. 



2d. The diamond dibble (6) is recommended by Sang* : it is made of a 



. Planter's Kalendar, p. 170.; 



