AS GENERALLY PRACTISED. 73 



the ground has been drained for young trees, the 

 water will not stand in the pits ; and where the 

 ground has not been drained in the manner already 

 inculcated, it is not in a fit state for planting trees 

 in ; therefore, I repeat again, that it is only under 

 bad management that pits made for young trees 

 can retain water. Where trees are planted in pits 

 made upon land in a dry state, their young and 

 tender roots have at once free access into the open 

 soil ; consequently, the trees soon establish them- 

 selves in their new site ; and, generally speaking, 

 I have found that trees planted in pits, after the 

 manner I have recommended, are ten years in 

 advance of those planted otherwise. 



I may here observe, that it is only necessary to 

 plant in pits those trees which are of pretty large 

 size, such as two years transplanted, and upwards ; 

 but trees under that ao;e and size, having smaller 

 roots, require to be planted only in the natural 

 surface soil, which is generally free and open to 

 the roots of all small plants. 



The method of planting termed notching, or slit- 

 ting, is done with the common spade or planting- 

 mattock, and is so well understood by all plan- 

 ters, that it would be superfluous to enlarge upon 

 it here. It is the practice most commonly in use 

 for the planting of all small trees, such as two 

 years' seedlings, or one year's transplanted firs. 

 The great point to attend to in this system of 



