124 FORESTRY WORK 



When ball-plants are used, a hole can be scraped with 

 the hoe, and the soil pushed back after the tree is placed 

 in position. As this method is chiefly used on stony 

 soil, it is advisable to cart some better-class soil or leaf- 

 mould, to be added at the time of planting. 



Planting with the Cylindrical and Semicircular Spades. 



The use of these tools prevents any great disturbance 

 of the root system of the plants, but where the latter 

 have to be carted from a nursery a long distance away, 

 the cost of cartage is increased, and the soil will get 

 shaken off, especially if it is light in texture. When a 

 temporary nursery has been made on the site, the method 

 is a good one. 



With the cylindrical spade, holes are made at the 

 required distance apart by pressing it into the soil and 

 giving it a half turn. The spade is then lifted up, bring- 

 ing with it the soil, which is placed at the side of the 

 hole. The plants, having been lifted with spades of the 

 same size, are carted to the area, lifted from the carts or 

 trolleys, and placed in the holes. A small quantity of 

 the soil taken out of the hole is spread over the surface 

 and the plant firmed up. If the ball has lost much earth, 

 it must be replaced by that taken out of the hole. 



If naked seedlings are used, they are placed in the 

 hole, and the soil filled with a trowel and firmed up. 



This spade is very useful for filling up thin places or 

 blanks on a sown area, the plants being lifted from 

 places where they are too thick and transferred to holes 

 made in the thin places. 



