222 ELEMENTS OF SYLVICULTURE. 



the seedlings are put into the nursery lines either 

 with the hand or with the aid of a frame, constructed 

 as follows : the frame is of wood, oblong in shape, 

 and of the same width as the bed to be planted up. 

 Small notches are cut in two opposite sides at 

 intervals equal to the distance proposed between 

 two consecutive plants, and large enough to receive 

 a movable flat bar. This bar contains slits or 

 openings in which the seedlings can be moved about 

 freely. To set to work, the frame is placed on the 

 bed, and a trench is opened of which one side is 

 vertical. A seedling is passed through each slit in 

 the flat bar, which is then placed over the trench 

 and supported on two opposite notches in the frame, 

 and earth is heaped up against the roots of the 

 seedlings. To render the operation expeditious, this 

 earth is obtained by hollowing out the trench to be 

 planted next, so that a second trench is ready as 

 soon as the first is filled. The nurseryman proceeds 

 thus until the whole length of the frame is planted 

 up, and so on with the remaining beds. 



The raising of seedlings of the other two classes 

 also involves the necessity of transplanting. Tall 

 seedlings ought even to be transplanted several 

 times, increasing the interval between two con- 

 secutive plants at each operation; but they ought 

 always to be near enough to close up their crowns 

 and allow the lower branches to fall off naturally 

 without necessitating pruning. 



At the time of transplanting or trenching it is 

 essential to make a clean section of such roots as 

 are broken or damaged. Even if the roots are intact 



