DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS. 175 



(d.) The objects of the plantmg, whether timber or fire- 

 wood is to be produced ; whether pieces of large 

 diameter or long boles are the objects of manage- 

 ment ; whether the wood is to serve as a protection 

 against landslips, erosion, avalanches, hot or cold 

 winds, etc. 



(e.) The state of the market ; where small produce is 

 saleable at remunerative rates, dense planting is 

 indicated ; under the opposite conditions wider planting 

 is more profitable. 



7. Distrihiitinu of Plants over the Area. 



The distribution of the plants over the area to be stocked 

 can be either irregular or regular. The former is done by 

 eye measure, that is to say, after the average distance between 

 the plants has been fixed, the planting spots are selected by 

 eye. This system requires practice. 



Kegular distribution is done according to geometrical 

 figures, the more usual of which are the following : — 

 (1.) The equilateral triangle, where the planting spots are 



at the three coiners of the trinagle (Fig. 40). 

 (2.) The square, four plants being placed at the four 



corners of the square (Fig. 41), 

 (3.) Equidistant lines or rows, in which case the plants 

 stand at shorter intervals in the lines than the distance 

 between the lines ; the plants may be said to occupy 

 the corners of rectangles (Fig. 42). 

 (4.) The quincunx form, a modification of the square form, 



as will be seen on reference to Fig. 43. 

 A regular distribution of the plants has the following 

 advantages over an irregular one : — 



(i.) An equal growing space is allotted to each plant, 

 (ii.) The plants are subsequently easier to find and 

 protected against being overgrown ; failures are easier 

 ascertained. 



