PLANTING. 113 



one in principle. It has, however, become the practice 

 to make the trenches so shallow, that the root-system of 

 the plants, instead of assuming a natural position in the 

 ground, is altogether bent to one side. The result is 

 that the plants develop a lop-sided root-system. It may 

 be easier to put out such plants, besides saving expense, 

 but the system is certainly not favourable to the develop- 

 ment and stability of the trees grown from them. The 

 author has observed, that in many cases trees 30 to 40 

 years old had not yet established a normal root-system, 

 and that numerous trees are blown down for this very 

 reason. 



m. Choice between Seedling Plants and Transplants. 



Each of these two kinds of plants has certain ad- 

 vantages and drawbacks, and it depends on the circum- 

 stances of each particular case whether the one or other 

 is preferable. 



Seedling plants are considerably cheaper than trans- 

 plants, as the latter require a larger area, as well as 

 labour in pricking out and tending. On the other hand 

 transplants are much superior, as they have more room 

 to develop; especially the root-system becomes fuller, 

 more bushy and compact. 



For planting in favourable localities seedling plants 

 may do as well as transplants ; in unfavourable localities 

 the latter are preferable ; also when specially large plants 

 are required. 



A plan sometimes followed consists in classifying the 

 seedling plants when, say, two years old. The best 

 plants are put out directly into the forest, the second 



VOL. H. I 



