118 PLANTING 



2. Planting in Holes made -with a Planting Spike. 



This is a method which should be very much used ; it 

 is suitable for all 3-year-old plants, and for many 4-year-old 

 plants, and even older plants in some cases. 



The planting spike consists of a straight wooden handle 

 or shaft inserted into a heavy iron head. The head should 

 be about 14 inches long, and in section 5 inches square at 

 the top. From this section it should taper down to a fine 

 sharp point. This head may be hollow, and of cast iron, 

 but the actual point should be of hardened steel. It is really 

 like a crowbar with a very big head and a wooden shaft. 

 Occasionally a cross "f-handle is provided, but it is better 

 to have a plain shaft, for the cross handle causes the 

 workmen's arms to get unduly jarred, and causes unneces- 

 sary discomfort. 



When the holes are made, another man follows on and 

 does the planting. He holds the trees in position with one 

 hand, and, with a trowel in the other hand, scrapes to- 

 gether some soil, and fills in the hole, and then treads it 

 firmly. 



The cost of planting in this way will be from 6s. to Qs. 

 per 1000. 



Where there is a soil covering of turf, it must first be 

 removed, and then replaced face downwards. Also, in such 

 a case, it will generally be necessary for a separate man to 

 hoe up a little fine earth before the holes are made, with 

 which the man who is doing the planting may fill in the 

 holes, since he would have a difficulty in scraping together 

 the earth with a trowel. This will considerably add to the 

 expense. 



The cost of removing turf, hoeing up soil, and planting, 

 will be from 133. to i6s. per 1000. This, however, compares 

 very favourably with 273. to 303. a 1000 for making and 

 planting in pits. 



Instead, however, of separately removing the turf, and 

 hoeing up soil for each tree, it will be much cheaper to 

 plough the land, when planting can then easily be done for 



