PRACTICAL FOKEBTKY. 



lanky, ill-grown, and ill-rooted plants having but a poor 

 chance of succeeding under the circumstances. From 8 ft. 

 to 10 ft. will be found the most suitable size for the purpose 

 under consideration. The pits for their reception should be 

 opened of sufficient size to admit the roots without cramping 

 or bending, the bottom and sides being made loose and free 

 with a pick all the better if the pits have been opened 

 for some time previous to planting, the winter frosts having 

 a beneficial effect in clearing and pulverising the soil. 



This is, however, seldom convenient, as, if in the field, 

 they become filled in, and trampled on by cattle, while gaps 

 in the fences occasioned by these cannot well remain open 

 for any length of time. 



The better plan at least, we have found it so is to open 

 the pits, plant the trees, and have these fenced in on the 

 same day, as by this method no part of the work has ever 

 to be done a second time everything being finished up as 

 the work proceeds. In planting, be careful to spread the 

 roots out in an even manner around the stem, as, by so 

 doing, the tree is not only more firmly fixed in the ground, 

 but is enabled to collect focd from all quarters. 



Fencing should follow up at once the work of planting, 

 as, if the young trees are allowed to remain unprotected for 

 any length of time, they get badly injured by the farm stock. 

 The fences may be of any desired kind, but, as they are only 

 required for a few years, a simple erection made of small 

 larch poles, about 8 ft. long, driven firmly into the ground 

 in a circle around it, say, 18 in. from the stem, and made 

 fast to hoops of wood at top, and halfway up, will be found 

 to be sufficient. Wooden erections are, perhaps, preferable 

 to those made of iron for fencing hedgerow trees, as they 

 seldom require renewing, for by the time the fence has 

 decayed the trees will, in most cases, be out of harm's way. 

 Pruning and After-Management. For at least the first 

 ten years after planting, careful and regular pruning of 

 hedgerow and field timber should in all cases be attended to, 

 bearing in mind that timely attention in this way will alone 

 obviate the necessity for heavy prunings at any future stage 



tt he tree's growth. 



112 



