FORESTRY AND CONSERVATION 371 



forestry where the operations are usually on a large scale, we must 

 do the work during a season when the plant is in a resting stage. For 

 climate and conditions like Ontario the early spring seems to be the 

 most suitable. The planting of evergreens is being successfully car- 

 ried on between the middle of August and the middle of September. 



Handling of Planting Material. In cases where the prospective 

 planter receives his planting material from a distance by freight or 

 express it should not be left lying at the office or sheds any longer 

 than possible. No matter how well the material may have been 

 packed there is danger of overheating, moulding, or excessive drying 

 taking place in the express office or shed .owing to lack of air. The 

 treatment upon taking the stock from the express office depends upon 

 local conditions. Where possible, it is best to unpack the plants in 

 the shade. They should never be subjected to the direct rays of the 

 sun. Where the planting cannot be done at once, it will be advisable 

 to unpack the plants and heel them in, in some place protected from 

 the sun. Heeling in is simply covering the roots of the plants with 

 soil. The plants are usually shipped in bundles of from 25 to 50 or 

 100, and if bundles have been packed tightly it may be advisable to 

 break them open and loosen them up before heeling in. Where pos- 

 sible, the trees should be heeled in near or on the place of planting, 

 and if there is a stream of water near the planting ground it would 

 be well to heel in close by this. 



When the work is to be done at once, the quantity of planting 

 stock small and the plants have not been lying in transit very long, 

 it may not be necessary to heel in. 



Density of Planting. In making plantations, it is necessary to 

 plant closely enough so that the ground may be well shaded to pre- 

 vent the growth of grass and weeds. Close planting also protects the 

 ground and forms the needed humus in a shorter time. The close- 

 ness of planting depends also on the species and the desired wood 

 crop. If trees with clean, tall stems are desired, it will be necessary 

 to plant closely enough so that natural pruning will take place ; that 

 is, as was pointed out in previous pages, the lower side branches will 

 die from shading and the height growth of the tree will be rapid 

 during the early years of its life. Some species, as Oak and Walnut, 

 do not form a perfect ground cover, and mixtures must be made to 

 obtain this condition. Much difference of opinion exists as to the 

 proper spacing of plants in planting work. The number of plants 

 and the spacing need not be fixed, but may vary with local conditions. 

 For most species the spacing should not be over six feet. Number of 

 plants required to plant an acre of land in squares : 



3 feet inches between the rows 4,840 plants. 



3 feet 6 inches between the rows 3,556 plants. 



4 feet inches between the rows 2,722 plants. 



4 feet 6 inches between the rows 2,151 plants. 



5 feet inches between the rows .1,742 plants. 



5 feet 6 inches between the rows 1,440 plants. 



6 feet inches between the rows .1,210 plants. 



The area may be planted in regular lines if roughness of the site 



