90 IMPORTANT TIMBER TREES 



Preparation of the Ground. The selection of the site 

 having been determined upon, the preparation of the ground 

 naturally follows. If the plot chosen is fairly fertile it would 

 best be ploughed or spaded late in the fall to a depth of ten 

 or twelve inches preferably the latter. This work should 

 be delayed to as late a period as possible so as to expose to 

 the frosts of winter all larvas or other pests that burrow in 

 the soil. If the soil is not fertile a suitable coat of muck, 1 

 compost, or well-rotted barnyard manure should be applied 

 and ploughed or spaded under. The latter must be well 

 covered, for if not put below the surface a crop of weeds 

 will very likely spring up the next summer and cause much 

 trouble and expense in getting rid of them. If the condi- 

 tion of the soil at the time of spading or ploughing will per- 

 mit it the plot should at once be laid out into beds four and 

 one half feet wide and as long as may be deemed advisable. 

 Most of the beds must be covered with lath screens the first 

 year, and a screen six feet long is one of convenient length 

 for handling, and any multiple of that may be adopted for 

 the length of the bed. If the ground is much descending 

 the beds should be laid out closely approaching contour 

 lines ; that is, they should be nearly level, but still descend- 

 ing lengthwise enough to prevent water standing in the 

 paths between them. The paths between the beds may be 

 from one and one half to two or more feet wide two feet 

 being generally deemed ample. The depths of the paths 

 must be regulated by the character of the soil. If loose or 

 sandy they need not be over three inches deep, or four at 

 farthest, but if the soil is close and compact they should be 

 deeper. The soil from the paths can be thrown on the beds, 

 and the entire surface should be made as rough as possible 

 and left in that condition so that freezing can pulverize it, 

 for that is essential. 



1 Muck obtained from a swamp or any wet location should have its natu- 

 ral acidity corrected with lime before its use is attempted. After thoroughly 

 mingling the lime and muck the mass should be allowed to remain in the 

 open air for several months and be occasionally worked over. It can then be 

 composted with barnyard mauure and used to good advantage in the nursery.^ 



