70 FORESTRY WORK 



change from open weather to frost or snow. The soil is 

 then replaced over their roots. 



If a change is expected, the work of lifting should be 

 stopped, and those plants that are already lifted should 

 be taken out of the bundles and heeled in thinly in 

 rows. 



If the nursery is near the area to be planted, or when 

 the plants are in a temporary nursery on the site, they 

 should be lifted with balls of earth by the use of either 

 the cylindrical or semicircular spades. The plants may 

 be then either planted in prepared pits or in holes made 

 with similar spades. 



This method of lifting and planting prevents any great 

 disturbance of the root system, and should be practised 

 whenever the conditions are suitable. In very sandy soil 

 the earth will not adhere to the roots during the journey 

 to the woods. Plants with naked roots, then, must be 

 used. To lift plants with a cylindrical spade, it is placed 

 round the plant, which is allowed to pass through an 

 opening in the spade. The tool is forced into the soil, 

 given a half turn either way to cut any side roots that 

 might adhere to the ground, and then lifted out, bringing 

 the plant and ball of earth with it. The plants may then 

 be released by pressure being put upon the bottom of the 

 ball of earth. The plants should be loaded carefully on 

 a horse trolly, or, if the nursery is on the site, upon a 

 hand-barrow carried by two men. 



The semicircular spade is inserted first on one side of 

 the plant and then on the other, or by a man on either 

 side, and the plant lifted out with a conical-shaped ball 



