356 THE BOOK OF THE LANDED ESTATE. 



with the extent of the existing plantations, and also, chiefly, with the 

 extent of land intended to be planted within a given time. I shall 

 endeavour to show what extent will be required for a given number of 

 acres planted annually. 



Presuming that it is intended to plant two hundred acres annually 

 for a number of years ; we have therefore to consider the numbers of 

 the different kinds of plants that will be required to plant the two hun- 

 dred acres annually, and the extent of ground it will take to rear the 

 necessary quantities. 



But before entering into any such detailed statement, a site for the 

 intended nursery has to be chosen. This should not be far from the 

 principal extent of the land to be planted, if a good site can be got 

 there ; if not, another part must be chosen. The soil should not be of 

 a stiff nature, but rather open and free. The chief thing wanted in 

 rearing young plants for removal into plantations is to encourage as 

 much as possible the growth of fibrous roots. There is little fear of 

 plants succeeding if they are well supplied with small rootlets ; and to 

 encourage this, a loam or light loam soil should be fixed upon for the 

 nursery, as stiff soils either stiff clay or loam rather encourage tap- 

 roots. A light soil, therefore, should be chosen, even should the site be 

 at some distance from the intended planting operations. 



Another point to consider is the climate of the locality in which it 

 is proposed to make the nursery. It should not be too much shel- 

 tered, as then the plants will have a tendency to be too mucTi drawn 

 up in a soft and tender state, and will not make valuable plants for 

 high-lying and exposed parts of the estate. Not only the land itself, 

 but the land around the site, should be thoroughly drained, otherwise 

 the wet land will encourage frosts in spring, and most likely kill 

 the young shoots on the plants. It should, on the other hand, not be 

 too much exposed. The part chosen should be a medium district, 

 not too much sheltered or exposed, with a dry light soil and a southern 

 exposure. 



Having, therefore, fixed upon a likely place for a nursery, we shall now 

 consider the number of plants required annually, in order to get at the 

 extent of land required. As I have already stated, we will suppose 

 that it is intended to plant two hundred acres annually, and presume 

 that one hundred acres are to be planted on the estate annually with 

 hardwood and larch, and one hundred acres with pine and larch alone ; 

 the former, we shall suppose, being on the lower part of the estate, and 

 the latter on the higher lands. 



To plant one hundred acres annually with hardwoods and larch, will 

 require, therefore, per annum 



