NOTIONS ON ABTIFICIAL EE STOCKING. 209 



CHAPTEE II. 



PLANTING. Must natural seedlings obtained from 

 the forest be used, or is it better to bring up the 

 plants in a nursery ? The answer admits of no hesi- 

 tation. In a nursery the soil is prepared by cultiva- 

 tion; the roots therefore develop rapidly, and a 

 seedling can never have too many roots to succeed. 

 The extraction of the plant is more easy, and the 

 fibrous roots do not require such careful handling. 

 The taproot, which in certain species is very long, 

 can be shortened either at the time of transplanting 

 in the nursery itself, or by cutting it off in situ. 

 By this means the roots gain a lateral development, 

 and do not sink deep ; hence smaller holes are 

 necessary, and the operation of putting out is done 

 better and more rapidly. Lastly, it is in nurseries 

 alone, and after special care, that we can obtain 

 vigorous young plants. 



Nevertheless, in the absence of nurseries young 

 seedlings from the forest may be used. Those are 

 to be preferred which have grown in open places 

 and not too thick together. Such plants have a 

 better developed crown and stronger and more nume- 

 rous lateral roots. In the case of broad-leaved trees 

 stunted plants are the best ; they possess well de- 

 veloped roots, while- the form of their crown is of 

 no consequence, since they may be cut back on being 

 planted. Those seedlings which are drawn up, and are 



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