54 FORESTRY WORK 



little use as a manure, if not, indeed, injurious to plant 

 life, owing to the sulphur present in it. 



As a grub destroyer it is very good, and should be 

 ploughed deeply into the soil six or eight weeks before a 

 manuring crop is sown. It also helps to kill seeds of 

 weeds present in the soil. Other artificial manures should 

 seldom be used, the best way to supply plant food being 

 by manuring crops, as described above. 



Preparing Ground for the Reception of Plants. 



After a leguminous crop has been ploughed or dug in, 

 the ground will be left fallow until the following spring, 

 when seedlings are to be lined out; but when a potato 

 crop has been taken off, the area must be cleared, the 

 dead haulm being taken off and burnt. This is the safest 

 way to dispose of it, especially when disease is present. 



When crops of turnips or mangolds are taken off, the 

 leaves should be left lying on the ground, to be dug in, 

 and so add to the vegetable matter in the soil. 



If there are many perennial weeds still in the ground 

 they must be forked out, as it is easier to get them out 

 whole with a fork than with a spade or by ploughing and 

 harrowing. 



The whole area should then be ploughed deeply or dug 

 over, the earth being thrown up roughly to expose as 

 much as possible to the action of frost. 



The Time for Transplanting. 



This varies a great deal with the locality. Some parts 

 of England and Scotland are subject to a spell of cold and 



