36 FORESTRY 



the thorough preparation of patches or strips of limited size. 

 On level ground strips are formed parallel to the longest side 

 of the area. On slopes, whether made with the plough or 

 by hand labour, they should run horizontally, following the 

 contour of the hill. A type of strong forest plough is shown 

 in Fig. 2. With hand labour the strips may be hoed, 



FIG. 2. FOREST PLOUGH 

 (Only one "wing" (/) is shown in the figure) 



dug, or trenched. The depth to which the soil is stirred 

 may be only a few inches as with the hoe, nine or ten 

 inches in digging, and in trenching considerably more 

 than a foot. The width of the strips varies from a few 

 inches up to about three feet, according as the plants are 

 threatened by weed growth from the unprepared ground. 

 The distance between the strips is regulated by the width 

 of the strips, and also with regard to the nature of the soil's 

 surface cover, the selected species' rate of growth, and the 

 density of the crop. Strips of a foot broad may be from 

 three to four feet apart. 



Cultivation of the soil in patches occurs either in the form 

 of squares of from one to five feet on the side, or as in- 

 terrupted rectangular strips. It is useful chiefly in situations 

 where the presence of large stones and roots makes long 



