PLANTING BARKEN AND EXPOSED DISTRICTS. 63 



ous trees, it ought to ensure all the more care being 

 taken in raising the coniferous kinds." 



During their removal, all plants should have their 

 roots carefully covered ; and where bedding-in has to be 

 resorted to, choose moderately dry and warm ground. 

 In the case of Scots and spruce firs, and other per- 

 sistent-leaved kinds, spread them out thinly in the 

 lines, or mouldiness will follow. The roots should in 

 all cases be embedded in tolerably fine soil. 



Where the plants are small, and the system of 

 notching-in is practised, the marker goes forward, and 

 by a cross-cut of his spade indicates the position of 

 each plant. The planter who follows strikes the point 

 of his spade or diamond-dibble into the ground at one 

 extremity of the cross, and to a depth proportioned to 

 the requirements of his plant, and then depresses the 

 handle, upon which the ground opens at the centre of 

 the notch, wide enough to allow the boy or carrier to 

 insert the plant. By withdrawing the spade after ad- 

 justing the roots the ground closes, and a slight pressure 

 of the foot completes the operation. In this way a 

 man and boy may plant from 1200 to 1500 trees per 

 day. Where small plants are used, and the land is of 

 a nature to require the use of the planting mattock, 

 the ground is well loosened, and the larger stones 

 removed from the hole, after which the operation is 

 completed with the aid of the planting hoe, a light 

 treading being necessary to finish it. 



In planting into prepared holes, water should be let 

 off, and the bottom should be well stirred and loos- 

 ened : the addition of compost, or some burnt soil, 

 will prove invaluable. In making such additions, the 

 object should be to meet the requirements of the in- 



