ESTABLISHING FORESTS BY PLANTING 

 Planting in superposed squares: 



383 



27. PLANTING RULES OF GENERAL APPLICATION 



The following well-established rules are of general application 

 in all methods of planting and are worthy of special notice. 



a. The trees should be planted so that the roots reach to a 

 greater depth than that attained by the downward desiccation of 

 the soil during summer droughts. 



b. With due allowance for the settling of the soil, the collar of 

 the tree should occupy the same position in reference to the sur- 

 face soil that it did in its original position in the nursery. 



c. The root system should be given, so far as practicable, 

 its natural position in the soil, and the roots should not be 

 crowded together, bent to one side, or placed in a single vertical 

 plane. 



d. When the site is overwet due to free water near the surface 

 or other causes, the trees should be planted above the general 

 level of the surrounding soil, viz., on mounds or ridges. 



e. When the site is overdry, due to soil or climatic conditions, 

 the trees should be planted below the general level of the surface 

 soil, viz., in pits or trenches so that they can make greater use of 

 the lower soil water. 



/. Only the best and the freshest soil should come in contact 

 with the roots in filling in about the trees. 



g. In planting on steep slopes a step-like niche should be made 

 and the plant set deep in the niche. The soil removed in making 

 the niche should be placed on the lower side of the opening. 



h. One plant should usually be set in a planting hole. Under 

 special conditions two or more coniferous plants are planted 

 together. When such is the case, the plants should be small. 



i. The stem should usually be given an erect position and the 

 soil thoroughly firmed about the roots. In planting for soil pro- 

 tection, the plants are sometimes placed oblique. 



