72 SYLVICULTUHE. 



local conditions as to soil, situation, labour, the size of the plants 

 used, the planting-distance, and the method of planting. And, 

 of course, draining and other soil-preparation may greatly in- 

 crease the first cost, while the filling of blanks in the first two 

 or three years after planting may add considerably to the total 

 cost before any plantation thoroughly establishes itself. But 

 notching and dibbling are certainly the cheapest methods, 

 though only suitable for a very light soil, while pitting with 

 pick or hoe is the most expensive, and especially on stiff and 

 stony ground. Pitting with conical spades stands midway 

 between these two extremes, though extensive data are not 

 yet available, as this method is only now coming into use- 

 in Britain. 



In the mild, open, wet climate of western Argyllshire a good 

 planter can usually notch from 80 to 130 plants an hour, accord- 

 ing to the nature of the soil, or on the average about 100 plants 

 an hour, and gets 4d. an hour (3s. 4d. per day of 10 hours, or 

 <! a week) ; and a man and a boy (2jd. an hour, 2s. a day) can 

 generally average about 180 plants an hour. This means that 

 during a ten-hour day a man can notch about 1000 plants, or 

 will take about 3J ten-hour days, costing 11s. 8d. per acre at 

 3J ft. (3556 plants), or very nearly 5 days, and costing about 

 16s. per acre at 3 ft. (4840 plants); while a man and a boy 

 notching 1800 plants in a 10-hour day, costing 5s. 4d., will do 

 an acre at 3J ft. in 2 days, costing 10s. 8d., and at 3 ft. in 2J 

 days, costing 14s. 4d. per acre. And taking 8s. per 1000 as 

 the cost of good l-year-2 or 2-year-2 transplants raised in a 

 home-nursery though from 6s. to 7s. will generally more than 

 cover the actual cost per 1000, even when the seed is dear 

 this means respectively 28s. 6d. and 38s. 9d. for the plants, 

 making the total first cost only about 40s. per acre at 3J ft., and 

 from about 40s. to 50s. at 3 ft. though if 2-year seedlings. 

 can be used the cost of home-plants will be greatly reduced. As 

 a general average 35s. to 45s. an acre is about the first cost, and 



