PEACTICAL FOIlESTilY. 



succeed amid a surrounding growth has been greatly 

 underrated. 



(5.) Pitting. The advantages of pitting over any other 

 method of planting cannot be questioned, and this is 

 particularly the -case with ground that has hitherto been 

 uncultivated. Compared with notch-planting, this system is, 

 no doubt, more expensive, but that the future benefits to the 

 plants are greatly enhanced is admitted by all practical 

 arboriculturists. 



It is not, however, to be inferred that, though pitting is 

 preferable, notching is to be abandoned, for there are many 

 precipitous, rocky places where it would be the only practice 

 feasible, and plants so inserted have often succeeded 

 admirably. 



The pits should in all cases be opened for some time 

 before planting indeed, in unfavourable soils and situations, 

 it is a good practice to have such work performed in autumn 

 and the plants inserted the following spring. By so doing, 

 the earth that has been removed from the pits will lie fully 

 exposed to the mellowing influences of frost and sunshine, 

 so that when the time for replacing it comes round, it will 

 be in the best possible condition for applying to the roots of 

 the young trees. 



The pits in uncultivated lands should be made circular, 

 about 18 in. in diameter and fully 12 in. deep, and the sides 

 and bottom well loosened up with a pick. In loose or 

 recently cultivated soil the pits may be much smaller. Take 

 off the surface turf in halves, placing these on one side of 

 the pit, and the soil on the other, for ease and convenience 

 in planting. When the ground slopes quickly the soil removed 

 from the pits should, so as to facilitate quick replacing, be 

 deposited on the higher side. 



(6.) Planting. This may be successfully carried out 

 during all open weather from about the end of September 

 to the beginning of April, but, generally speaking, autumn 

 planting is to be advocated. There are several exceptions 

 however : such as when we have to deal with peat bog, 

 water-logged soil, exposed hillsides, or land by the sea- 

 coast. Where the newly-inserted plants have to cope with 



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