58 NURSERY MANAGEMENT 



nursery lines is to give each plant room to grow ; the opera- 

 tion causes the plants to form bushy fibrous roots with which 

 they are more successfully planted into the woods. 



When a bed of seedlings is to be pricked out the soil should 

 be well loosened by using two forks, one on each side of the 

 bed, and the seedlings are then carefully drawn out by hand. 

 The soil should not be shaken off the roots, as if this is done 

 all the root hairs are torn away ; there is no object in re- 

 moving the little earth which clings on, as the plants have 

 only to be carried a short distance to another part of the 

 nursery. The seedlings, unless they are to be planted at 

 once, should be promptly heeled in, in a shady place, their 

 roots being well covered with soil. 



The most important point is to see that the roots never get 

 dry, therefore pricking out should be done in moist weather, 

 or, if the day is dry and a wind is blowing, the roots should 

 be dipped in water or liquid mud before being heeled in. 

 Neglect of this precaution may cause the death of a large 

 number of plants, whereas if carefully done there is no reason 

 why any should die. 



To plant into nursery lines, the ground having been well 

 dug over, a garden line is put down across the area and 

 a trench is dug out along it with a vertical side to a depth of 

 at least ten inches. Against this side the plants are placed at 

 the proper distance apart and with their roots going straight 

 downwards. A handful of earth is pressed against the plant 

 to hold it in position, and when the whole line is completed 

 the trench is filled up and the plants are gently firmed in with 

 the foot. The garden line is then moved nine or twelve inches 

 and the process is repeated. 



In many cases the trench is made too shallow and the roots 

 are therefore doubled up ; this must be avoided at all costs. 



While being pricked out the plants are often pruned, but 

 pruning should be reduced to a minimum ; a damaged or 

 extra long root or a double leader may be pruned off with 



