STATE P03IOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 143 



A few words as to the best method of preparing the soil might not 

 be out of place here, nor unacceptable to the beginner. So far as 

 my own experience goes I have found the best results by first plow- 

 ing the land- up into ridges, so that the center of the ridge shall 

 occupy the place where the trees are to stand. Then plough the 

 land again in a cross direction, thus dividing it into squares, in 

 such a manner that tlie center of each square will mark the place 

 for planting the tree. A series of high l\nolls will thus be formed 

 so that if the work be well done the land will be quite effectively 

 surface-drained at least. 



It is b3' no means objectionable to proceed in this wa^' on any kind 

 of soil ; but it is absolutely necessary that it should be effectually 

 done on anything approaching to a heavy cla}'. 



Your knolls having been thus formed sufficiently high, prepara- 

 tions should be made to prevent the roots of the tree from going 

 too deep into the ground, otherwise when the heaving of the ground, 

 ■which the frost invariabl3' causes, takes place, the descending roots 

 will be torn asunder, whilst those which find a place near the surface 

 and spread themselves out sideways from the tree will largeU' escape 

 injmy. 



To prevent this downward tendency of the roots, the Jesuits and 

 the original French settlers on the island of Montreal invariably 

 placed a large flat limestone under each tree, and this was found to 

 accomplish the desired object as the roots could not, of course, pene- 

 trate tlie stone, and on reaching it would turn outwards and grow in 

 a lateral direction from the tree. 



But these large masses of stone are not always available in every 

 locality-, and even when the}- are, the}' are cumbersome and heavy 

 to handle. 



The following has, however, been found an excellent and effectual 

 substitute : Take the trunk of a pine tree, say about two and a 

 half or three feet in diameter, and from this saw off blocks from 

 three to four inches in thickness, placing them so that there will be 

 one about eighteen inches deep under each tree when planted. 



These are easilj' procured, readil}' handled, and appear to answer 

 the purpose for which the}' are made, quite as well as the stone ; the 

 pine wood when placed under the gound and away from the action 

 of the air enduring a long time, and is quite effectual in giving the 

 desired direction to the roots of the trees. 



