68 PLANTING 



trees descend into a subsoil unfavourable to them, whether 

 it be a stiff, wet clay, or an impenetrable rock, or a barren 

 sand, they will of necessity show signs of failing. But, that 

 the ploughing of land will cause the roots, beyond the first 

 season's growth, to descend into the subsoil, is highly 

 improbable. 



The great advantages of ploughing ordinary pasture 

 land are, that the young trees are more likely to become 

 immediately established, as their fibrous roots have a plentiful 

 supply of fine soil through which to push their way directly 

 growth begins, and they have not to compete with a thick 

 matting of turf for their food requirements and moisture. A 

 soil covering of turf transpires far more moisture than is 

 evaporated from the surface of bare land ; and it also prevents 

 rain and moisture from reaching the roots of the trees, as 

 may easily be realised by anyone who cuts a turf from a 

 lawn after a heavy storm of rain in a dry summer. The dry 

 state of the soil under the turf will often make it difficult to 

 imagine that there has been any rain at all. Then again, the 

 young crop will not require such attention in being kept clean 

 and free from being choked, as would be the case if planting 

 had been done direct on the turf, and smaller plants can be 

 used ; thus very greatly lessening the expense of planting. 

 On poor land the surface will remain fairly clean for 2 years 

 or more, but on rich land a strong growth of weeds and grass 

 will soon appear ; but even in such cases, it will generally be 

 possible to use plants one year younger than would otherwise 

 have been advisable. Furthermore, wherever grass can be 

 prevented from growing, the danger from late and early 

 frosts will be very much lessened; 1 especially is this the 

 case on southern aspects. 



Now, ploughing the land will, generally speaking, only be 

 necessary when the soil is covered with grass; on heather 

 soils, all that is necessary is usually to burn the surface. 

 But there are, however, certain cases when a surface cover- 

 ing of grass is not detrimental, and may even be beneficial. 

 For instance, on exposed high altitudes, its shelter will 

 1 This is explained later on in Chapter V., pp. 72, 73. 



