114 Practical Forestry 



Planting and Fencing. Whether for planting in the 

 hedgerow or singly in the fields, good, strong, well-rooted 

 specimens should always be used inde'ed, it is well when 

 a home nursery is on the estate to have these specially 

 prepared, by frequent transplantings for a few years pre- 

 vious to their final planting out. The nursery management 

 will require both care and experience, so that trees with 

 strong, fibrous roots equally distributed around the stem 

 may be produced ; lanky, ill-grown, and ill-rooted plants 

 having but a poor chance of succeeding under the circum- 

 stances. From 10 ft. to 14 ft. will be found the most suitable 

 size for the purpose under consideration. The pits for 

 their reception should be opened of sufficient size to admit 

 the roots without cramping or bending, the bottom and 

 sides being made loose and free with a pick it will be all 

 the better if the pits have been opened for some time pre- 

 viously to planting, the winter frosts having a beneficial 

 effect in clearing and pulverizing the soil. 



This is, however, seldom convenient, as, if in the field, 

 they become filled in, and trampled on by cattle, while 

 gaps in the fences occasioned by these cannot well remain 

 open for any length of time. 



The better plan at least, we have found it so is to 

 open the pits, plant the trees, and have these fenced in on 

 the same day, as by this method no part of the work has 

 ever to be done a second time, everything being finished 

 up as the work proceeds. In planting, be careful to spread 

 the roots out in an even manner around the stem, as, by so 

 doing, the tree is not only more firmly fixed in the ground, 

 but is enabled to collect food from all quarters. 



Fencing should follow up at once the work of planting, 

 as, if the young trees are allowed to remain unprotected 

 for any length of time, they get injured by the farm stock. 

 The fences may be of any desired kind, but, as they are 

 only required for a few years, a simple erection made of 

 small larch poles about 8 ft. long, driven firmly into the 

 ground in a circle around the tree, say, 18 in. from the stem, 

 and made fast to hoops of wood at top, and half-way up, will 

 be found sufficient. Wooden erections are, perhaps, prefer- 



