WOODS AND PLANTATIONS. 363 



lOd. to Is. 3d. per hundred by contract. When inserting the larch into 

 these pits, we cause them to be placed against one of the sides of the 

 pit, and not more than three-fourths of an inch deeper than they had 

 been standing in the nursery lines. This is easily known by the mark 

 on the bark. If the larch-plants are inserted in the soil deeper than 

 what I have stated, they will not grow vigorously, as none of the coni- 

 ferous tribe do well if planted too deep, or if any of the branches are 

 covered by the soil. In order to prevent too deep planting with larch 

 or Scots pine, and to assist otherwise in securing good planting, a woman 

 or boy should go along with each man and hold the plants in the pits 

 while the man puts in the soil, and they should be instructed as follows : 

 1st, Hold the plants between the forefinger and thumb at a point on 

 the stem three-fourths of an inch above the part to which they had been 

 planted in the nursery rows ; generally this point will be found to be 

 about two inches above the part where the uppermost roots come out 

 from the stem. 2d, Hold that part exactly level with the surface of 

 the soil on one side of the pit, and hold it in that position until the 

 man has put the earth in about the roots of the plant. And, 3d, while 

 keeping it in that position all the branches should be kept back by the 

 hand. 



The part round the plant, after having all the soil put in, should be 

 firmly pressed with the foot. If the natural growth on the surface is 

 grass, the part round the plant should be left bare ; for if the turf is 

 replaced, the herbage will grow up and choke the plant, especially in 

 strong soils. In pitting on moorland where the heath is short, I think 

 it judicious to have the turf replaced; but it should be cut into four 

 quarters, and beat in about the plants. I consider this necessary 

 on moorland, as, if the soil is left bare, it is much exposed to the 

 heat of the sun in summer, and gets very dry and opens out, and 

 thus allows the dry air to get to the roots of the plants, which kills 

 them. 



In planting small-sized larch and Scots pine on high-lying and ex- 

 posed parts of the country where the soil is thin, they require to be 



c 



inserted by means of the notch, making two cuts in form thus, a __/_ d 



& 

 The spade is first inserted as shown in the line b c, then a cut is 



made in the opposite direction, as shown at a d, and the spade is 

 bent down, which makes an opening M'here the cut has been made. 

 The plant is then inserted and drawn in to the point at c. These 

 notches are often made with a planting-mattock, but I find nothing 

 better than the common spade, and all the better if the spade should be 

 somewhat worn. 



