128 ARTIFICIAL REFORESTATION 



Care is, of course, taken to keep the rootlets fresh and moist during 

 the operation, a fundamental of successful planting. The usual method 

 of planting is as follows: A few handsful of fine soil are placed next to 

 the roots while the root collar is held close to the ground. With the 

 right hand the planter fills in the loose soil after arranging the roots 

 so as to lie naturally. The ground is pressed lightly with the hands 

 after the soil is filled in. Soil is usually piled an inch above the root 

 collar to allow for natural sinking. But the French are very careful 

 not to plant too deep since this checks the roots, encourages false roots, 

 and induces rot. On very dry ground, or sand, the planting is cheaper 

 than on very compact moist soils where they rarely plant below the 

 root collar. In very dry regions where rocks are not available, a mound 

 4 to 12 inches high is often built up on the south side of the plant for 

 protective purposes. 



For really difficult planting the French favor ball planting with the 

 ball of earth 3 to 4 inches in diameter. This conserves the moisture, 

 but of course costs much more. It is always necessary that the ball of 

 earth adhere to the surrounding soil, since if this contact is not made 

 the soil will dry out and the beneficial results of ball planting be lost. De- 

 montzey adopted a so-called bush or clump method of planting which is 

 sometimes used in Algeria, in which three or four plants are placed 

 together. This was alleged to be cheaper and surer. Apparently French 

 foresters argued that there was no danger of too many plants and that 

 there would always be one most vigorous plant that would survive in 

 the competition for existence. This method is only used in the moun- 

 tains. The disadvantage is that, if there are contagious diseases, all 

 plants will be affected and succumb. 



In water-logged soil the French prefer ridge planting rather than 

 mound planting. They call a stand planted by the mound method, 

 where it is necessary to pile up 3 or 4 cubic yards of earth per thousand 

 plants, a "plantation-de-luxe." The plowed ridges ordinarily used 

 are much cheaper, since the work can be done on a large scale. Another 

 special method used by the French is the so-called basket method. 



"The method consists in excavating a hole (like a cone upside down) 2 to 3 feet 

 wide at the top and 10 to 14 inches in depth; all around the sides of this hole a series 

 of short or average-sized stems (generally broadleaf) are placed 4 to 6 inches apart and 

 placed so that the stems form the skeleton of a basket. Then the whole is filled with 

 loose soil, mixed with humus, if that is possible." 



This results in a little green island of trees and is especially useful 

 for planting in torrent beds or on thin soil. 



Occasionally it has been found possible to plant profitably on un- 

 prepared soil by simply making a hole in the earth with a spade or 

 stick, inserting the plant, and pressing down the soil with the foot. 



