358 THE BOOK OF THE LANDED ESTATE. 



already stated as being required both for the hardwood trees and the 

 larch and Scots pine, there ought to be a portion of the nursery under 

 green crop in each year, to keep it clean and in good condition ; and this 

 should be done in rotation, as each portion of the old plants is removed. 

 One-fourth of an acre may be allowed for the seed-beds of the hardwoods, 

 a similar extent for manure-heaps and compost, and an additional acre 

 for borders and other ground under other trees such as specimen pines 

 and shrubs and, say, a quarter of an acre under roads and walks. This, 

 together, will therefore give, in each year- 

 Acres. RoodB. 



Under one-year hardwood, ... 2 



two-year-transplanted hardwood, . 2 



three-year-transplanted hardwood, . 2 



seedling larch and pine, ... 1 



transplanted,larch and pine, 3 2 



green crop, 2 



seed-beds, 1 



manure-heaps, .... 1 



borders, &c., ..... 1 



roads and walks, .... 1 



9 3 



or, say, a total of ten acres required for planting out two hundred acres of 

 plantation annually. I have not taken into account any land required 

 for the seed-beds of larch or Scots pine, as we have always found" it best 

 to purchase the seedlings from a nurseryman. Public nurserymen will 

 consider this a very large extent of land for rearing the number of trees 

 required, but this is just the great advantage of having an estate nursery. 

 Ample space is given to each plant ; and this secures a healthy well- 

 rooted plant, with plenty of fibrous roots, and the new plantations are 

 formed with satisfactory results. In public nurseries, and especially 

 where they are in the neighbourhood of large towns, the plants are 

 usually too much crowded, which tends to draw the plants up weak and 

 soft, and with bad roots. 



If the high-lying land of an estate is very much exposed, a smaller 

 size of plants will suit better for planting ; and in that case a less extent 

 of nursery-ground will answer the purpose. Thus the larch and pines 

 may be large enough when of the age called one-year seedling one year 

 transplanted, when of course they would be removed, and the extent 

 of land stated as being under one-year seedling two years transplanted 

 would not be required. That being fully more than one-half the land 

 stated as being required for larch and pine, this would give nearly two 

 acres less. 



Having arranged as to the extent of land required, the next thing is to 

 have it thoroughly drained. This is an important operation for the sue- 



