130 PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 



for five pounds to ten pounds an acre ; these are the lands 

 to select for commercial planting, and, as will be seen by a 

 later example, with ample prospect of success. 



If land of this nature near industrial centres will not pay 

 under tree culture, it is clear that tree planting of barren 

 waste lands will not. 



One more thought continuity of ownership after planting 

 is a most desirable condition. If the hand of the enthusi- 

 astic planter could be retained until the period of maturity is 

 reached, what successes we should see ! This, however, is 

 contrary to nature, and therefore newly planted areas often 

 lapse into immature failure through neglect and greed. 



METHOD OF PROCEDURE. 



It may be well before dealing with the subject of pro- 

 cedure to remind the forester (be he who he will) that to 

 reap a full success in planting he must secure and retain a 

 full crop upon the ground. There will be one opportunity 

 in the life of a plantation to secure this, and only one. Let 

 this crucial point be missed and no full success can follow. 



As we walk through the woodlands of England it is our 

 one cry : Oh, for a full crop of such trees as these ! 



Again, let the planter at the first step the initial step 

 rest assured that every care bestowed in preparation and 

 planting will be repaid twenty years hence. Careless selec- 

 tion, careless planting, neglect of precautions will, on the 

 other hand, result in disappointment. 



Preparation of the Ground. 



Having selected the site for planting, preparation will 

 follow. As a rule very little is required, for trees will grow 

 upon the surface turf, among grass, and light herbage, often 

 better than on tilled land. There are cases, of course, 



