22 Establishment of Woods 



Having determined upon the advisability of draining an area, 

 the following points should be noted : firstly, that drainage should 

 take place at least a year before the planting operations are begun ; 

 and, secondly, that, after planting, the drains should be kept in 

 working order. The reason of this is that the roots are accustomed 

 to a certain feeding area ; this is limited by the " water-table " or 

 the level of the water in the ground so that it is essential that this 

 " water-table " be maintained at a constant level. A blocked drain 

 will raise the " water-table " immediately, so that the roots will be 

 submerged and their feeding power impaired ; on the removal of the 

 obstruction, the ''water-table" is lowered, and, if a very dry 

 summer ensues, it is most probable that the annual ring deposited 

 will be smaller. 



Open drains are, of course, the only forms adopted. The 

 distance apart may be from thirty to sixty feet, according to the 

 nature of the soil. 



Planting. 



Planting. The soil of the site on which planting is carried out 

 will vary. It may be a deep loamy soil with a natural growth of 

 grasses and weeds sometimes termed "jungle" which may attain a 

 height of two feet or more ; or it may be a shallow stony soil with 

 a natural growth of short herbage or turf; on the other hand, it may 

 be dry, or boggy ; or it may be some combination of these. 



It will be evident that the same methods of planting are not 

 suitable for all classes of land, and that the method must be adapted 

 to the soil. In deep soil, if a small plant is used, either it will be 

 suppressed by the "jungle," or else needless expense will be incurred 

 in keeping the small trees clear. In a shallow soil, a large plant 

 would be at the mercy of the wind before the roots were established 

 and also there would be great difficulty and expense in making holes 

 of sufficient size to accommodate the roots of a large plant. 



There are two methods of planting commonly practised in this 

 country "pit planting," and "notching" or " slitting" each being 

 suited for a particular class of ground. 



