22 FORESTRY WOKK 



Trenching the Ground. 



All soils are benefited by trenching, even where they 

 are of good depth and where the subsoil is not hard and 

 impervious to water. Trenching makes dry soils retain 

 moisture longer, and aids drainage on stiffer soils, making 

 them more easily worked. 



When the work is done in the autumn, as it should be, 

 the soil is sweetened and ameliorated by the action of the 

 frost during the winter months, and made more suitable 

 for the reception of young plants in the spring. 



The depth of the trenching need not be more than 

 20 inches, as too great a depth of loose soil encourages 

 the growth of taproots, which must be cut before the 

 trees are transplanted. 



In the old style of trenching, the soil was taken out to 

 the required depth for a width of 18 inches and laid on 

 one side, the top soil from the next 18-inch strip was 

 thrown into the bottom of this trench, and succeeding 

 layers dug on to the top of this until the poorest soil, or 

 subsoil, was on top and the best soil at the bottom, right 

 out of reach of the young trees planted later on. 



The newer and more approved method of trenching, 

 commonly called " bastard trenching," is carried out in 

 the following manner: At one end of the bed to be trenched, 

 a strip 18 inches wide is marked off, and the top soil, 

 which will contain a certain proportion of vegetable matter 

 or humus, is taken off and barrowed to the opposite end 

 of the bed, and deposited in heaps for use in filling up the 

 last trench made. The depth of this soil will vary, but 



