SCOTCH PLANTING SPADE 119 



6s. or 73. per 1000; and there will be the additional 

 advantage that the land will remain more free from any 

 rank growth for the first year or so. 



3. Planting with a Curved Planting Spade. 



This is another cheap method of planting. It is suited to 

 about the same sized trees as can be planted by means of 

 the planting spike. 



The spade has an ordinary wooden handle, but a long, 

 curious shaped blade. This blade is about 16 inches long, 

 and the last portion, of about 8 or 10 inches of it, is curved 

 slightly upwards. The head of the blade is about 7 inches 

 wide ; it then rapidly becomes narrow, so that, at 8 inches 

 away from the head, it is about 3^ inches wide ; from thence 

 it tapers gradually to the end, where it is about 2j inches 

 wide. Two men are required to plant a single tree, when 

 this implement is used. 



One man carries the spade and another man the plants 

 and also a small ordinary spade. The first man inserts the 

 curved spade at an angle into the ground, at about 8 inches 

 from the spot where it is desired to plant the tree. He 

 then levers the soil up so that the curved blade comes near 

 the surface. Then the other man cuts down with the 

 ordinary spade on to the long, curved blade, at the spot 

 where the tree is going to be planted. Here he parts away 

 the soil, so as to make room for the tree. He is then handed 

 a tree by the other man, which he inserts. The long, curved 

 spade is then worked up and down, so as to shake earth 

 about the roots; and then it is withdrawn, and the earth 

 over the roots is firmly trodden in. 



Now, the removal of the long-bladed spade leaves a 

 channel leading down to the roots of the tree. And it is 

 most important to heel in the mouth of this channel, so as 

 to prevent the air from drying up the roots of the plants 

 Much harm will be done if this precaution be omitted. 



The cost of planting by this method will vary from us. 

 to 1 6s. per 1000. 



