50 FORESTRY 



The soil is then pressed down, the rest of the earth filled 

 in, and the whole tramped firm. 



Some form of small planting hoe may be used to assist in 

 gathering together the dug-out soil, and care must be taken 

 to set t'he plant at the same depth at which it stood in the 

 nursery. As a protection against drought, the skimmed-off 

 sods should be placed, inverted, upon the top of the patch 

 or pit. 



For the preparation of the soil, which should always be 

 done in autumn if possible, a narrow hacking hoe (Figs. 8 

 and 9) may be employed. These hoes are much used in 



FIG. 7 FIG. 8 FIG. 9 



hilly districts where Spruce is planted, and the cultivation 

 need not be deep. There they do both better and cheaper 

 work than the spade. 



Following upon skimming and cultivation of the soil, or, 

 indeed, without cultivation where the soil is naturally loose, 



