APPENDIX. 139 



prevents undue exposure of the young trees, to which is 

 due the dry root-fibre and diooping habit. It would be 

 more correct to say, dig the holes well in advance of the 

 planters, as the area may be large. Let the holes be dug 

 deeper than is required, and let the top turf or mould be 

 thrown into the bottom, so making the hole about 6 inches 

 deep at planting. Should the subsoil be hard, break it at 

 the same time with fork or pick. Let the holes be 12 to 

 14 inches deep, 9 inches square at top, and filled in as 

 suggested, and a man will dig about 100 to 120 a day, say at 

 a cost of 2S. 3d. to 2s. gd. a hundred. On hard and com- 

 pact land a better plan may be to use the pickaxe to the 

 full length of shaft and to notch in the plants. The picking 

 can be done for is. gd. to 2s. per TOO. Prices, however, 

 must be approximate, as they will be governed by the wages 

 of the district. 



On thin hillsides or soil with a light turf notch-planting 

 may be adopted, as it is cheaper and often more effective. 



A few hints on pit-planting may not be out of place. 



Sink the tree to the nursery depth only, spread the root- 

 fibre, fill in the soil completely before treading, and then 

 tread the tree lightly all round, taking care not to bruise 

 the bark with the foot. The practice, all too common, is 

 to throw in a portion of the earth, tread it in with the heel, 

 repeating this process until complete. This means ruptured 

 fibre, misplaced and crowded roots, and damaged bark. 

 The foreman should see every tree planted, and the men 

 should be paid by the day. Trees 3 feet and upwards in 

 height may be planted upright ; small trees when notched 

 may have a slight lean towards the prevailing wind. 



With regard to the distance apart and form of planting, 

 we prefer 4 feet, and triangular to any other. If 3 feet, the 

 results will not be satisfactory, and the cost of both trees 

 and labour unnecessarily heavy. If 5 feet apait, the lateral 



