SYLVICULTURE 47 



first. When there are several rows, the last one, being to 

 the outside, is specially well earthed up. 



In the later care of nursery stock, attention should be 

 given chiefly to weeding and occasional loosening of the 

 surface soil. It is found that keeping the upper layer of 

 the soil stirred is the best way of conserving the moisture 

 for the plants. 



Packing of Plants and Arrangement in Planting 



When the plants require to be transported any considerable 

 distance they must be well packed. Small plants are con- 

 veniently placed in round baskets, a layer of moss being 

 inserted between each layer of plants, the roots being to the 

 middle ; larger ones are laid on their sides upon moss and 

 straw, these materials also cover them, and this admits of the 

 package being tightly bound. Large saplings are tied in 

 simple bundles, only the roots being protected as a rule, 

 though hoops may be arranged to guard the stems. On arrival 

 at the place where they will be planted out, the young trees 

 must again be carefully heeled into trenches. As the plants 

 become required, they are taken out, small quantities at a 

 time, and brought to the planters in boxes or baskets, the 

 roots having moss or earth about them. 



The PLANTING SEASON may be either spring or autumn. 

 The latter is chosen when there is fear that all the work 

 could not be carried out in spring, and often for trees like 

 Larch whose buds develop early. 



In ARRANGEMENT, trees may be planted irregularly or at 

 prescribed intervals in the latter case, usually in rows form- 

 ing square or triangular figures. By the quadrilateral arrange- 

 ment, the space between the rows and that between the plants 

 in them is the same. Rows with forms other than this are 

 generally made so that the distance between plants is less 

 than that between rows, but in the equilateral triangle, the 

 distance between the plants in the rows is greater than 

 between the rows themselves. 



