Planting Exposed Ground 69 



country are to a high piece of ground, where at times the 

 wind blows with terrific fury, and where one can scarcely 

 stand upright, have sufficient stamina to stand against such 

 odds and difference as must and do exist between the two 

 points at present under consideration. 



Sometimes it is well to trench over a piece of ground on 

 partially-exposed land, and insert therein for a couple of 

 years before the proposed plantation is to be formed, the 

 young trees intended for planting out. This has a wonder- 

 ful effect in hardening and inuring them to severe cold and 

 a wind-swept situation. By forming a nursery of young 

 trees by the sea-coast, I have known great success attend 

 the formation of woods and plantations in maritime situa- 

 tions, and like results are sure to attend the planting out of 

 trees in any uncongenial and unfavourable situation. 



About the trees to be planted, being such as are suffi- 

 ciently hardy to withstand prolonged storms, we will now 

 say a few words. In the outer line or, rather lines the 

 Scotch, Austrian, and Corsican Pines (Pinus sylvestris, P. 

 austriaca, and P. laricio) are of first value, since they are 

 able to stand against the storms of the hillside and produce 

 a great amount of shelter to other less hardy kinds. It is 

 often only necessary to make a wind-barrier, as it were 

 that is, to plant well-tried evergreen kinds, from which 

 shelter can be obtained next the most windy position, then 

 to follow up with other kinds that are second hardy in 

 nature, and so on inwards ; while, in the very centre of the 

 plantation, almost any kind of tree can be used. 



The Austrian Pine has been successfully planted at high 

 altitudes, and in the most exposed situations, and on the 

 Continent it has proved itself of great value for breezy sites 

 and maritime situations. 



The State forests are composed of not a few Austrian 

 pines, and they are greatly valued for the shelter and warmth 

 they afford to other less hardy kinds of trees. The best 

 results are to be obtained if planted when young, for when 

 removed at a greater age, with roots large and rampant of 

 growth, it is with great difficulty that they can be got to keep 

 upright. Unfortunately the timber is of no special value. 



