418 



SEEDING AND PLANTING 



are all more or less spade-like but have a much thicker and nar- 

 rower blade. They have been used in the United States for dem- 

 onstration purposes only but merit a much more extended use for 

 planting tap-rooted, broadleaved species and small conifers when 

 conditions are favorable. The planting lance described by Baud- 

 isch l is fitted with a foot-rest by means of which it can be readily 

 forced into the soil in the same manner as a spade. Among the 

 better of this class of tools should be mentioned Prouve's planting 

 iron of French origin 2 and the Saxon plant- 

 ing iron with a broad foot-rest and narrow 

 3-edged blade (Fig. 125). 



Small plants may be planted very rapidly 

 with either the grub-hoe or mattock without 

 removing the soil from the opening. By two 

 or three strokes of the tool the surface litter 

 and herbaceous growth is cleared from an 

 area 6 to 8 inches in diameter where the tree 

 is to be planted. A deep thrust of the tool is 

 made into the center of this spot sending the 

 cutting edge to a depth of from 6 to 8 inches. 

 By forcing the handle forward, the cutting edge 

 with its load of soil is raised, opening up a 

 crevice into which the plant is introduced with 

 the left hand and the roots shaken down into 

 the opening below the cutting edge of the tool. 



FIG. 125. Planting 

 iron with 3-edged 

 blade. 



The tool is now withdrawn, and the plant 



brought upright in the center of the hole, 

 as the earth falls in about the roots. When 

 the work is carefully done, the trees are planted sufficiently deep, 

 the roots are fairly well spread out, and only moist soil comes in 

 contact with them. This is an admirable method for planting 

 2-year coniferous stock, such as pine and spruce, on loam or sandy 

 soil. The work, however, should be closely supervised as the 

 method permits of too shallow planting and the oblique setting of 

 the plants when done by unskilled and careless workmen. This 

 method of planting is much more rapid than ordinary hole plant- 



1 Baudisch, C.: Die Pflanglanze. (Centralblatt f. d. gesamte Forstwesen. 

 S. 312. 1879.) 



2 Mayr, Heinrich: Waldbau auf naturgesetzlicher Grundlage. S. 418. 

 Berlin, 1909. 



