CLEARING AND PLANTING 67 



centre of the hole. This can be done by marking 

 the outline of the hole before the peg is removed. 



In ordinarily good soil a hole of from 12 to 18 

 inches in diameter and depth is large enough for 

 any of the plants, but if the soil is stony or gravelly 

 the holes should be made larger. The soil removed 

 from the hole should be thrown over the surface, 

 not piled round the hole. 



When weeding has to be done over a holed field, 

 care should be taken not to break up the outline 

 of the hole, for that would render regular planting 

 more difficult. The silting up of the holes need 

 cause the planter no annoyance : the soil washed in 

 in this way is fine surface soil, which is the very 

 best filling for the holes. 



Planting. The days for this work must be 

 carefully chosen, and it must be energetically 

 pushed on in suitable weather. The work ought 

 not to be hastily commenced as soon as the first 

 rains begin. It is wise to defer it till sufficient 

 rain has fallen to thoroughly soak the soil, and 

 particularly the bottoms of the holes. Showery 

 days, dull days, and mornings after rain should 

 be given up to planting, and every effort should be 

 made to complete the work well before the rainy 



