Practical Sylviculture 



127 



ling a little deeper than it stood in the seed-bed, spreading 

 the roots as much as possible, sprinkling over them soft, 

 clean earth, pressing it down firmly with the hand, filling 

 up the entire opening and then firming thoroughly with 

 the heel. With a little practice this operation need 

 require less than a minute's time. When the soil is 



FIG. 34. Planting evergreen seedlings under shade of birches. 



clear from stones and roots, one stroke of the mattock will 

 open a large enough hole to receive a two-year-old seedling. 

 By pulling slightly on the handle of the mattock, the open- 

 ing will be made large enough to receive the roots of a 

 seedling before the mattock is removed. When the 

 mattock is taken away, the seedling is in its place and a 

 little thorough tamping with the heel will firm the earth 

 sufficiently. 



The most desirable spacing for all woodlot purposes 



