HOW TO GIIOW GOOD TIMBER. 271 



This is not nearly so expensive as trenching ; but it, 

 too, is not always advisable, for trees have the ten- 

 dency to confine their roots to the dug-out space 

 for some years, and so they do not get the hold upon 

 the ground that they otherwise would. 



This plan is that of partial trenching, and we 

 should prefer the former to the pitting process, unless 

 where stones, such as those found in the oolite rocks, 

 come to the surface. In such case, the removal 

 of some of the larger stones and supplementing 

 them with soil from some other source we have found 

 to be of advantage. 



3. Ploughing the soil is as expeditious a plan of 

 preparing and clearing it as we possess; and now 

 that steam cultivation can be brought into action for 

 a much greater depth than could be done with horses, 

 smashing-up the land by its means would be no bad 

 preparation for planting where this is to be done on 

 tolerably level ground. 



While upon this subject we may here quote, as 

 still worthy of attention, the directions in the fourth 

 edition of the " Sylva." 



Let us now see in what manner we are to prepare the ground 

 for their reception. The best way is by trenching, or double digging, 

 as deep as the soil will admit of ; but as this is a very expensive pro- 

 ceeding, and consequently can only be practised upon a small scale, I 

 shall recommend another good method of preparing the ground. This 

 is to be done by proper ploughing, and, if agreeable, the year before 

 the land is planted, it may bear a crop of oats, rape, or turnips. By 

 this means the sward will be effectually destroyed. After the crop is 

 off, let the ground be trench-ploughed, and then harrowed with very 

 heavy harrows, to break the clods ; about the end of October let it 

 be again ploughed crossways, and harrowed as before. This is the 

 season for planting the sets, for the ground, by being thus cross- 



