3 o SEASIDE TREES AND SHRUBS 



On the slopes of hills, where the water perco- 

 lates, or springs rise up through the soil, causing 

 stagnation of the land, or in other water-logged 

 soils, open drains or ditches secure good drainage, 

 or in low-lying marshy districts where the surface 

 water can be drained off or led away. 



Following the completion of the drainage, the 

 land should be well and deeply worked. The 

 method of working would depend mainly upon 

 two conditions : (i) the depth and character of 

 the soil and subsoil ; (2) its area. 



Soil and subsoil vary much in character and 

 depth, and the conditions applicable to working 

 small pieces of ground would not be the same 

 as those applying to large tracts of country where 

 it is desired to plant extensively. On small areas 

 the ground may be trenched, and the method 

 known as " bastard trenching" is the best to 

 follow. This could be carried out when the soil 

 is of sufficient depth, and the character of the 

 subsoil is such as to allow of its being done ; but 

 in very large areas this would not be found to be 

 an economical plan to follow. The next best 

 method is to thoroughly work the land with the 

 plough and other agricultural implements, break- 

 ing it up as deeply as the nature of the soil will 

 allow, and bringing it into proper conditions for 

 planting. 



It is a good plan to prepare the soil in 



