GENERAL PRACTICE. PLANTING: MARKERS, HILLSIDES. 143 



off, leaving the stakes in position. After the hole is dug replace the board over the 

 stakes, set the tree with its stem against the centre cut in the board, and the tree will 

 be in the right place at the right level, for the marker enables the planter to keep the 

 trees in line, to accurately determine the depth as compared with the surrounding 

 ground, and there is no line to interfere while placing and firming the soil about the 

 roots. The illustration (Fig. 28, A, page 142) shows the method of using and the value 

 of this marker. 



The " triangle marker " is formed of three pieces of inch-board 4 inches wide and 7 

 feet long, joined together with a small bolt and screw at the crossings (5 feet apart), to 

 form a triangular frame with three corners, as shown in the illustration, Fig. 28, 7?, the 

 small circles in the angles where the boards project representing stakes 6 feet apart, two 

 hard- wood stakes of equal diameter, each 16 to 18 inches long, completing the marker. 

 In using it place one corner against the stake where a tree is to be planted, the marker 

 being laid evenly on the ground, and in the other two corners thrust in the prepared 

 stakes. Pull up the stake indicating the place for the tree, remove the marker, leaving 

 the two stakes in the ground taking care not to displace them whilst digging the hole. 

 In planting the tree place the marker against the stakes. The other corner will 

 indicate the position of the stem, and the tree will be planted exactly where the stake 

 was placed in setting out. 



The triangle marker can be made of any size to suit different sizes of trees or 

 excavations, and with one of dimensions equalling the distance required between the 

 trees, planting in equilateral triangles is readily effected. It is also useful in 

 " opposite vacancy " planting, the marker having movable pins so that the corners can 

 be adjusted to the distance required between the trees in the rows, and from row to 

 row. 



Hillsides. On a steep hillside it is advantageous to dispose the rows of trees cross- 

 wise of the slope. Where the soil is thin and liable to be washed away, the slope 

 should be formed into a series of ridges as shown in ^(Fig. 29, page 144). This plan 

 answers equally well where the soil is stubborn and overlying strata impervious to 

 water. It gives an increased depth of ameliorated soil, exposes a larger surface to 

 atmospheric influences, keeps the trees safe from an excess of wet in winter, and the 

 catcher secures to them the summer rains which would otherwise run off instead of 

 entering the soil down to the roots. Sometimes the base of slopes is always wet by the 

 percolation of water from higher ground, but efficient drainage prevents injurious 



