42 Practical Forestry 



nursery border to the more trying surroundings just referred 

 to, are more likely to take hold at once and succeed. 



The battering and swaying that autumn planted trees 

 receive when exposed to the hurricanes of our hillsides or 

 seaside sites so enfeeble them that, in spring, when growth 

 should commence, the majority will be found to be in a very 

 unsatisfactory state, whereas, by inserting in spring, when 

 growth will soon be at its full activity, the chances of suc- 

 ceeding are greatly enhanced. In peat bog the antiseptic 

 properties of the soil act dangerously on the roots of young 

 trees if allowed to remain therein for some time before 

 active growth has commenced. However, with the excep- 

 tions cited, tree planting throughout the British Isles 

 generally should be taken in hand as soon as the leaves 

 of the hard-wood species have fallen, which usually takes 

 place about the second or third week of October, much 

 depending on the particular season. Lift the plants very 

 carefully from the nursery brakes, and do not, on any 

 account, tolerate the too-often-enacted practice of tearing 

 the trees from the ground, and before they have been 

 properly loosened on both sides of the lines with a fork. To 

 lift nursery stock properly and the extra expense incurred 

 in so doing is money well spent a trench should be thrown 

 out along each side of the line and the soil undermined from 

 beneath the roots, so that the plants can be lifted without 

 tearing or straining the tender rootlets. It is not important, 

 if the plants are inserted soon after being lifted, that soil 

 should accompany each, the roots being plentiful and un- 

 mutilated making up for the want of this. Where, however, 

 the plants have not to be conveyed far from the home 

 nursery to the plantation there is no need to remove much 

 of the soil, for if left intact the young tree is far more likely 

 to start away freely into growth than if this was shaken 

 clean off. 



Immediate planting after being lifted is to be strongly 

 recommended, the evil of allowing plants to lie about 

 exposed to wind and weather being well known. Should 

 it, however, not be convenient to plant at once, the nursery- 

 stock should be stood closely together, and some damp straw, 



