70 SOWING AND PLANTING IN THE FOREST 



will shortly be killed by the increasing cover of the young 

 wood. 



Very often plantations of broad-leaved trees, especially oak 

 and ash, seem to stand still and the trees do not commence to 

 grow for several years. In this case the plants should be cut 

 back to the ground in early spring, three or four years after 

 planting. The stools will then form new shoots which will 

 grow rapidly. When these are two years old, all except the 

 best one on each stool should be cut away. The shoot left 

 will then grow into a healthy tree. 



Cost of planting. This varies according to the price of 

 plants, the number per acre planted, the nature of the soil 

 covering, the method adopted, and the cost of labour, hence 

 no figures can be given which will apply in all localities. As 

 a general rule the cost, excluding any draining, fencing, or 

 cleaning of the land, varies from about 4 los. to 8 per acre, 

 as indicated by the following examples : 



T. Notch-planting home-grown two-year seedlings of Scotch 

 pine on sandy soil at 4 feet apart, 2,722 trees per acre, or say 

 2,900 to allow for unsuitable and damaged plants. 



*. rf. 



2,900 plants at 1 2/- per 1,000 I 14 10 



Notching 2,722 plants at 1 5/- per 1,000 2 o 10 



Carriage of plants, &c. ... 070 



4 2 8 



2. As above, using purchased plants. 



2,900 plants at 2O/- per 1,000 delivered at railway station ... 2 18 o 



Notching, as above 2 o 10 



Carriage of plants, &c 070 



s s 10 



3. Pit-planting home-grown two-year-old plants i-| to 

 2 feet high of most species at 5| feet apart, 1,440 per acre, or 

 say 1,500 to allow for bad plants. 



