72 METHOD OF PLANTING 



extensive proprietor of land in the north of Scot- 

 land, who, while speaking to me relative to the 

 different methods of planting trees, said that he 

 was of opinion, that the plan of making pits for 

 young trees was altogether superfluous, and ought 

 not to be practised; because upon his estate he 

 had hitherto planted by the same method, and 

 found that the pits when made were only recep- 

 tacles for holding water. Now, as it is possible 

 that many other proprietors may hold the same 

 opinion, I here beg to make a few observations 

 relative to the good arising to young trees when 

 planted in pits. 



If the roots of a young hard-wood tree, or a two 

 years' transplanted fir, are put into the ground, 

 merely by a simple opening with the spade, they 

 they are so soft and tender, that they are unable 

 to push their way through the solid earth in search 

 of food, and the natural consequence is, that if the 

 tree does not altogether die, it grows weakly, and 

 is long in attaining the character of a healthy tree. 

 If the soil be of a damp open nature, the tree may 

 succeed well after the roots become strong enough to 

 push their way ; but if the soil be naturally poor, and 

 of a binding quality, the probability is that the 

 trees planted in it without pits will die altogether. 



As to the pits made for the reception of young 

 trees becoming a receptacle for water, that can only 

 be the case under bad management ; for where 



