CHAPTER IV 



PREPARING THE PLANTING AREA 



Clearing the ground — Preparation of the soil: pitting, ploughing, 

 stripping off turf and draining — Fencing and maintenance of 

 fences — Laying out of drives and division of area into compart- 

 ments. 



Clearing ilie Ground. 



WTaen an area of waste land is to be planted up, there 

 is always some preparation needed. Eough grass, bracken, 

 heather, gorse, or other rough growths, must be ehminated. 

 Also, in some cases, on old forest land such cleaning must 

 be done; for instance, when the previous crop has been 

 very thin, allowing undergrowth to grow profusely, or 

 when the area has been left for three years after felling, 

 as should be done when attacks of Pine weevil are to be 

 feared. Usually the quickest way to destroy this rubbish 

 is to burn it as it stands, during the winter months, in 

 dry weather with Httle or no wind. Great care must be 

 exercised if there are young plantations near. Burning 

 should always take place against the wind, fire being set 

 to a narrow strip on the leeward side of the area, and 

 allowed to burn out before setting fire to another strip 

 farther back. The line of nre should then be allowed 

 to burn gradually against the wind, as by so doing the 



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