CHAPTER VI. 



PREPARATION OF THE GROUND FOR 

 PLANTING. 



FOR every corn crop we find some preparation of the 

 ground is made, but for the growth of timber we often 

 find no preparation made at all. Why is this? Is 

 it that it is not needed, or is it on account of the 

 expense ? The latter undoubtedly is the chief reason, 

 as the expense attaching to the most simple planting 

 is somewhat heavy, and naturally nothing should be 

 done to increase this which can possibly be avoided. 



Nevertheless, we venture to hold the opinion that 

 if more regard were paid to preliminary preparation, 

 even at the risk of adding somewhat to the cost, we 

 should have timber of finer quality, and reaching an 

 earlier maturity. We have, however, to deal with 

 what is practicable, not with what is theoretically 

 right. 



When planting for ornament, or for early shelter, 

 too much pains cannot be taken to prepare the 

 ground. It is both expedient and wise to be liberal 

 in the early stages ; but when dealing with large 

 areas for commercial purposes, a heavy and unneces- 

 sary preliminary expense is unwise. The question of 

 preparation will, when practically considered, fall into 



