FOR PLANTING OPERATIONS. 43 



ther is fine and fresh, I set the men to plant upon 

 the most exposed sides or parts of the ground, and 

 also to plant any piece naturally wet; and when 

 the weather is cold or wet, I set them to plant upon 

 the most sheltered parts, or where the ground is 

 naturally dry ; and in the case of frost coming upon 

 them, I always reserve the making of pits for hard 

 wood, which can be done during frost, and is still 

 carrying on the work, and at the same time keeping 

 the workmen in employment. In short, by con- 

 ducting planting operations in the manner above 

 referred to, ten good experienced men will do far 

 more work in four months, than twenty inexpe- 

 rienced ones in two months ; and, what is of more 

 importance, the work by the few hands will be much 

 better done, and prove far more satisfactory in the 

 end. Not long ago, I had an interview with an old 

 forester of fifty years' extensive and successful prac- 

 tice, who, upon conversing with me upon the point 

 now under consideration, told me, that his rules for 

 planting, for the last twenty years, had been, to 

 plant dry ground in autumn, either with hard wood 

 or firs, and to plant ground naturally wet in spring. 

 Also to plant dry ground in wet weather, and ground 

 naturally damp in dry weather ; to the advantages 

 of which method I can myself bear testimony from 

 my own experience, and any planter who will go to 

 work upon these principles, will find the happy 

 results arising therefrom. 



