AS GENERALLY PRACTISED. 71 



turf which comes off the surface of the pit exactly 

 into two halfs with the spade, I make them fit 

 closely upon the young tree, with the grass side 

 uppermost ; but if the situation to be planted by 

 the method of pitting be an exposed one, then I 

 plant a tree in one of the corners of each pit, and 

 by so doing it is kept firm in its place by having 

 a rest against the firm sides of the pit : and here 

 let me observe, that this method should always 

 be practised when the trees are apt to be blown 

 about by winds and storms. In planting trees 

 in such pits, great care is necessary to see that 

 they be made perfectly firm in the new soil of 

 the pit. But in making the trees firm in the pits, 

 no tramping or beating with the feet should be 

 allowed, until the whole of the earth be put in; 

 for if the planter begin to beat the earth upon the 

 roots of the young tree, while they are only half 

 covered with soil, he is sure to do them injury; and, 

 knowing the evil of this from experience, I never 

 allow a man to beat the earth about the roots of a 

 young tree, until he has it all into the pit, when a 

 good firm tramping with the feet is necessary, in 

 order to keep the plant properly in its place until 

 its roots take hold of the soil. After the earth has 

 been all put into the pit and made firm, the turf 

 should be put over the whole as closely as possible, 

 and made firm in order to keep out the drought. 

 A few weeks ag-o I had a conversation with an 



