372 HORTICULTURE, FORESTRY, FLORICULTURE 



does not prevent it, but if land is broken by stumps, rocks, etc., it 

 may be necessary to distribute the plants wherever possible. The 

 more regular the planting is done the easier it will be to find and 

 protect the plant against being overtopped by weeds, etc. Also dead 

 plants may be easily located and replaced. It will be easier to prop- 

 erly distribute the planting material over the area where regular lines 

 are followed. 



Different classes of soils present varied problems in planting 

 work. Cultivated soil which is usually good agricultural land ; light 

 gravelly or sandy soils which cannot be cultivated for fear of blow- 

 ing, washing out, etc., and rough rocky or steep land which it would 

 be impossible to cultivate, need certain differing treatment. 



The ease and speed with which planting may be done depends 

 upon the looseness of the soil. Where soil has been cultivated the 

 operation is a simple one and can be done with a common spade. 

 The planting hole can be made by driving in the spade and moving 

 it backward and forward, giving an opening. If the soil is very sandy 

 and loose, the plant may need to be placed in position before the 

 spade is removed to prevent the filling up of the planting hole. In 

 some cases the soil may be worked about the roots with a planting 

 peg, which can be made in a few minutes. Frequently the planter 

 discards the above tools and prefers to place the soil about the roots 

 with his hands, which method is probably as satisfactory as any. 

 After the roots have been covered it is very necessary to firm the soil, 

 which may best be done with the foot. The roots should always be 

 firmly covered. 



The plants should be transferred from the spot where they are 

 "heeled in" or packed to the planting hole by carrying in a pail. 

 This pail should contain muddy water the consistency of a batter 

 and the plants should have their roots submerged in this batter. 

 Plants should be immediately transferred from pail to planting hole 

 and covered at once. The roots of the plants should not be allowed 

 to have the direct rays of the sun for a moment. In no case should 

 the plants be dropped in advance of the planter, as it gives the soil 

 an opportunity to dry out. A man and boy can do this work very 

 well together, and two working together will obtain the best results. 

 One preparing the planting holes, the other placing the plant and 

 covering it. 



In light sandy soils which have a thin turf or covering of grass 

 and weeds, it is advisable to strike out very shallow furrows with the 

 plow. These furrows should be shallow, so that the plant will not 

 lose the advantage of any humus which may be in the surface soil. 

 The furrows will act as planting lines and will also aid in future in- 

 spection. The overturned sod will give the plant protection from 

 grass and weeds if the plants are placed near the side. The soil in 

 this furrow will also have a better moisture content than surround- 

 ing surface soil. In many cases the plant is better protected from 

 winds. 



The plow can also be used in hillside planting where it is pos- 

 sible to put horses. By running furrows for planting lines along the 



