72 SOWING AND PLANTING IN THE FOREST 



the other hand it may often be necessary to spend a con- 

 siderable sum on clearing the land, on fencing, and draining. 

 These items must be kept as low as possible ; the land may 

 often be cheaply cleared by fire ; fencing may sometimes be 

 avoided by exterminating rabbits ; and draining may often 

 be reduced to a minimum by choosing a species which will 

 succeed in wet land. 



It is advisable to again warn the woodman that success in 

 planting depends largely on two simple precautions : keep 

 the roots moist, and do not plant too deeply. 



In view of the large amount of planting on waste lands 

 likely to be done by the Forestry Commission, mention may 

 be made of the Belgian method for planting up peaty land, 

 which is well worth a trial on wet, peat areas. 



The method is a combination of drainage and planting, and 

 is carried out as follows : Open, parallel drains from 2 to 

 2j ft. deep, and about 2 ft. wide at the top are cut in the peat 

 at intervals of about 15 to 20 feet, the dimensions and distance 

 apart depending on the depth and nature of the peat. The 

 material cut out of the drains is thrown up and scattered over 

 the flats between them. Transplants are planted a year later 

 in the up-turned peat turfs placed 4 feet apart on the flats, 

 a small pit being easily cut out with a circular spade. Planting 

 on the up-turned turf serves the double purpose of starting 

 the plant on the better decayed peat from a lower level, and 

 of keeping a space around it clear of heather and grass. 



The drains are cut out the year before planting to allow the 

 peat flats to settle at the new level formed by shrinkage con- 

 sequent on draining, and to increase aeration. The cost lies 

 chiefly in this operation, planting being a rapid process on the 

 soft peat. 



Plantations have been formed thus in this country on 8 feet 

 of peat, and promise to be successful. Particulars of the 

 method are to be found in the Transactions of the Royal 

 Scottish Arbor icultural Society, Vol. xxviii (1914). 



