NATIONAL AFFORESTATION 



with ground that has hitherto been unculti- 

 vated. Compared with notch-planting, this 

 system is far more expensive, but the future 

 benefits to the plantation where pitting has 

 been carried out are admitted by all practical 

 arboriculturists. It must not, however, be 

 assumed that, though pitting is preferable, 

 the notch system is to be abandoned, for 

 there are many rocky situations and moorlands 

 where the latter would be the only practice 

 feasible, and plants so inserted have often 

 succeeded admirably. 



The pits are made from 15 inches to 18 

 inches in diameter, if circular, or 15 inches if 

 square, and the sides and bottom of each 

 loosened by a pick; but in all cases the holes 

 should be of a size sufficient to admit of all 

 the roots being spread out to their full extent, 

 and also to allow of a margin of loose soil to 

 exist between the root extremities and edge 

 of the pit. 



Usually the pits are marked off by one man 

 and dug out by several. In light, loose soil, 

 or such as has recently been under cultivation, 



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