PREPAEING THE PLANTING AREA 75 



1. Pitting. 



On heavy soils some preparation is absolutely necessary, 

 and this is the method most often used. If the pits are 

 dug properly and at the right time of the year it is better 

 than any other method, because the turf is done away 

 with, by either turning it over grass downwards at the 

 sides of the pits or by chopping it up in the bottom of the 

 hole out of the immediate reach of the young roots, where 

 it will rot and become available in the form of humus as 

 a supply of plant food. (If allowed to remain in contact 

 with the roots, it is apt to heat them.) 



The pits should be dug in the early autunm months, 

 so that the soil taken out may be exposed to frost and 

 sun, thus being sweetened and made more friable. 



The young rootlets of the plants have a much better 

 opportunity of finding their way through the soil than 

 when the clay is just taken out, the tree inserted, the soil 

 put back again and rammed down, thereby enclosing the 

 roots between layers of impervious soil. 



When the soil is not properly weathered, cracks appear 

 between the lumps in hot seasons, allowing an excess of 

 air to penetrate to the roots, and often killing the plants. 



The pits should be at least 15 inches in diameter for 

 the usual size of plants that are used, but a good rule is 

 to allow 3 inches or so beyond the spread of the roots to 

 give them some weathered soU in which to start growing. 

 The roots of a plant should never be made to fit the hole, 

 but the hole made to fit the roots. 



In digging the pits the soil should be taken out to the 



