PLANTING. 131 



pitting, or ploughing and harrowing, 



I cannot admit of a deviation from the above 



practice. 



It borders on absurdity, to make a gash, 

 in tilled ground, perhaps, and thrust in the 

 roots by force ; probably with more trouble' 

 than by taking out a spadeful, and inserting 

 the plant in such a manner as that the mould 

 may be 'mtimately mirt with its fibres ; 

 matter of evident utility and benefit, whe- 

 ther considered in the light of enabling the 

 fibrils more readily to seek pasturage in trre 

 soil, or that thereby they are not so liable 

 to be injured by parching drought. For it 

 frequently happens, that if the soil is moist 

 at the time of planting, in the former case, 

 the gash seems to be closed at top, while, in 

 fact, it remains open ; which is shown bjr 

 the first succeeding drought, and if not 

 closed, by the consequent languishrrient or 

 death of the tree. 



On very steep hangs which have been 

 pitted, the following rule ought to be observ- 

 ed in planting: Place the plant in the angle 

 formed by the acclivity and surface of the pit ; 

 and in finishing, raise the outer margin of 



