364 THE BOOK OF THE LANDED ESTATE. 



Another form of notch is made by cutting two cross lines instead of 

 one, thus, ~" The plant is drawn up to the point a at the crossing 



of the lines. After the spade is withdrawn, the turf should be firmly 

 pressed down with the feet and with the heel, to fix the plant well 

 in its position. 



The distance at which plants should be put from each other in a plan- 

 tation must of course vary with the altitude, situation, and exposure of 

 the site of the plantation. 



On high-lying and exposed parts of the country I have generally 

 planted the trees at from three to three and a half feet from each other. 

 Many foresters think this too close, as the first thinnings do not come 

 to any value ; but the great object in such situations is shelter, and by 

 planting at the distances named, the trees ere long shelter one another 

 and grow much faster. 



On situations at a lower level, or those parts of the country which 

 are a medium between very high-lying land and the lowest levels, I 

 usually plant at four feet apart. There is not any necessity for planting- 

 closer in such situations ; and to put them any wider apart will only 

 tend to expose the plants all the more, and check them from growing 

 so fast. 



On the lower levels of the country, and in sheltered situations, the 

 distance apart of the first planting of trees should be regulated by the 

 demand for small thinnings in the district. Supposing that a good 

 market can be got for small thinnings, I would advise that all the low- 

 lying and sheltered sites to be planted on an estate should be done at 

 three to three and a half feet apart ; the first thinning can then be taken 

 out earlier than if the trees were put in at wider distances, and sold for 

 whatever purpose there is a demand. If, however, there is no demand 

 for small thinnings, then we should plant the trees at five feet apart ; 

 this will enable them to stand together without being injured until 

 they come to be some useful size. I do not consider it a part of good 

 management to plant at much wider distances than that last stated, as, 

 in plantations formed with the trees at seven, eight, or nine feet apart, 

 a few deaths make large gaps and holes in the plantation. Of course 

 the dead plants could be replaced, but filling up never gives such a 

 satisfactory plantation as one which gets away altogether ; and besides, 

 no income would be received for a long period of years from plantations 

 formed at wide distances. 



Before proceeding to plant, the trees have to be purchased from a 

 public nurseryman that is, when no home-nursery is kept. In pur- 

 chasing from public nurseries, it is always a good plan for the forester 



