138 PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 



prevailing wind. Further, a line or lines of pines, firs, or 

 hardwood trees, which possess a natural tendency to lateral 

 development, should be planted across the line of wind, and 

 in very exposed sites these lines may be occasionally repeated. 

 Every precaution should be exercised to prevent trees when 

 young taking a leaning attitude. The size, too, of a planta- 

 tion is often beyond control, and the site is generally of a 

 limited description ; but it should not be lost sight of that 

 the greater the area the less will be the initial cost of planting, 

 and the better will be the character and description of the 

 timber grown. An immense mass of one kind of tree is 

 always a thing of great beauty, and of supreme grandeur. 



The Planting. 



Having selected the site, prepared it, fenced it, selected 

 the trees and the system of planting, the actual operation 

 may be performed. It is, of course, believed by many that 

 any one may plant a tree, which is true in a sense ; but the 

 point to be achieved is to so plant the trees that they may 

 establish themselves early and grow vigorously. Careless 

 planting and disregard to the condition of trees to be 

 planted will lead to failure or to a partial success. Nature 

 may assert herself in favour of the careless planter some- 

 times, but such reliance must not be strained. First select 

 trees which have well-developed root-fibre, a ripened leading 

 bud, and of a well-formed character, plant them with care, 

 and, subject to season, they will grow and thrive ; but take 

 the trees as they come from the nursery, or as the nursery- 

 man delivers them, without regard to wounds, ruptured 

 root-fibre, and undeveloped leaders, and failure may result. 

 In larch especially a wounded bark surface, due to careless 

 lifting from the seed bed, may lead to disease which may 

 spread throughout the plantation. 



The holes should be all dug before planting, as this 



