164 FOREST PLANTATIONS. [Jan. 



which it is intended to raife in maffes, fhould 

 be clofe together; in the firft inftance, three, 

 three and a half, or at the mofl four feet, accord- 

 ing to foil and fituation, will be found fufficient 

 diflance ; it being of the highefl importance to 

 have them drawn up ftraight from infancy. 



Larches may be planted at this time, or any 

 time between this and the end of March, accord- 

 ing to the (late of the ground, as before noticed. 

 The planting of all the firs mould be delayed till 

 April, or even May ; to which months we refer 

 the reader. 



We mall now proceed to treat of the manual 

 operation of Planting. 



If it be determined to plant in Mafles, as above 

 recommended, the hard timber fhould be firft 

 planted, and afterwards the nurfes ; or, one fet 

 of operators may plant the former, while another 

 follows with the latter, provided the nurfes be 

 larches ; but, if they be firs, fome time mufl e- 

 lapfe before the feafon for removing them arrive. 

 The plants, if brought from a diftance, fhould be 

 xhoughed ; or they may be fupplied daily from the 

 nurfery, as circumftances direct All the people 

 employed ought to be provided with thick aprons, 

 in which to lap up the plants ; the fpadefmen, as 

 well as the boys or girls ; the latter being fupplied 

 by the former, as occafion may require. All of 



them 



