PREPARING GROUND FOR PLANTING. 15 



labour than by any of the systems hitherto in use, as 

 the detailed cost given above will confirm. 



" By reference to the foregoing table, it will be 

 seen that the cost per acre is 1, 7s. ; whereas from 

 information obtained from proprietors in the neigh- 

 bourhood, who have followed the system of draining 

 the ground by open grips, made about 15 yards 

 apart, the cost was 2 per acre ; and for holing and 

 planting at 4 feet apart, the cost varied from 1, 5s. 

 to 2 per acre for labour alone." 



In planting ordinary moorland apart from drain- 

 ing, the most important consideration is to remove 

 the rank herbage, old matted surface, and use proper 

 sized plants. I have seen two-year seedlings, one-year 

 transplanted plants, prove an almost complete failure ; 

 whereas had the surface been rendered bare, "and one- 

 year plants used instead, perfect success would have 

 attended it. Poor moorland, and all ground much 

 exposed, should be planted with the smallest plants 

 possible, provided always that such plants are well- 

 rooted, strong in the stems, and proportionably grown. 



Having for years tried many experiments with 

 all sorts and sizes of plants, I have come to the 

 settled conclusion that for general moorland, planting 

 with larch, one- year seedlings one year transplanted 

 are the best, and with Scots fir, two-year seedlings one 

 year transplanted. By two-year seedlings Scots fir, 

 I mean what are now generally known as bedded 

 plants, or plants that are lifted out of the seed-bed 

 when one year old, and laid thickly in close lines for 

 another year. By the process of bedding, a good and 

 important work is accomplished, and one which well 

 repays the labour and expense. 



The practice of bedding seedling forest-trees is of 



