SUCCESSIVE CROPPING WITH SCOTCH FIR. 51 



best suit the nature of the soil. The castings from 

 the drains should be laid down in equal quantities on 

 each side of every drain, for the convenience of fur- 

 nishing earth for earthing the plants. 



" After the ground is thoroughly and effectually en- 

 closed, and all brushwood has been cleared out, the 

 ground should be permitted to lie over for at least one 

 year, during which time the ground should be strictly 

 protected from being pastured by stock of any descrip- 

 tion, in order to rear up as rank a crop of herbage as 

 possible. Early in March, in dry weather, the whole 

 herbage should be carefully burned all over the 

 ground intended for planting. 



" The drains will keep the burning within bounds, 

 and with a little care and caution it may easily be 

 prevented from overrunning to any adjoining cover. 



" After the operation of burning is completed, the 

 planting should be proceeded with immediately. And 

 to withstand the beetle and to enable the plants to 

 get speedily beyond the risk of being attacked by it, 

 I would recommend strong two-years' transplanted 

 plants, which, if carefully planted on the system of 

 double slitting, as already described, with a substantial 

 layer of earth, will keep clean for a long period ; and 

 if the work is carefully performed, the plants are 

 secure from the beetle. Independently of protecting 

 the plants from the beetle, this layer is very service- 

 able in supporting the young trees, and preventing 

 the summer droughts from opening the slits. If the 

 plants are healthy and strong when planted, they will, 

 by the second year, be beyond the reach of being 

 much damaged by the insect. 



" We have planted several hundreds of acres with 

 young Scots fir, after old Scots fir crops, within the 



