CHAPTER VIII. 

 PLANTING. 



HAVING prepared the ground, by drainage or other- 

 wise, the forester will, when the proper season arrives, 

 commence planting. We will, therefore, now consider 

 as fully as is necessary the processes applicable to the 

 various sites and conditions. 



The subject of seasons will perhaps first engage the 

 attention of the forester before proceeding with the 

 actual planting. When large areas have to be planted, 

 he will naturally choose the earliest period compatible 

 with safety. He will have to consider the nature of 

 the soil which he has to plant, and also the state of 

 the young trees in the nursery. On a wide area the 

 soil will doubtless vary, and he will therefore choose 

 that which is dry and friable for autumn planting, re- 

 serving the clay land, especially if it has been recently 

 drained, until the spring. The season may be said to 

 commence with November and end with April ; but 

 sometimes it is possible to commence during the 

 latter days of October and to continue into the first 

 week in May. 



It is, of course, quite improbable that he will be able 

 to plant all through this extended period ; but if his 

 plans have been well laid, he will be able to take 



