93 FOKEST PLANTING. 



are lowered in the cleft to a point jnst above the crown 

 of the roots, one finger separating the plants, and while 

 thus suspended a handful of compost is with the right 

 hand sifted into the cleft between the plants. The axe is 

 then driven in about one inch distance from the cleft and 

 pressed a little toward it, so as to cover the roots with 

 earth. The second cleft should then be filled up with a 

 few light strokes of the axe. 



On stony soil it would be impossible, or at least very 

 difficult, to operate in the manner just explained. In 

 such soil use should be made of a steel-pointed iron 

 planter, by which a square hole is driven into the ground, 

 large enough to set two plants in the manner just de- 

 scribed. 



Watering the plants after setting is very well, if it is 

 done carefully with a rose sprinkler, and lumping of the 

 soil is avoided ; but generally it is not necessary, except 

 in times of impending drought. Jf watering during the 

 hot season has to be resorted to, it should be done late in 

 the afternoon or evenings. 



It will not do to set one or two-year-old plants on grass 

 lands or on such soil as is favorable to the growth of 

 grass and weeds. On such ground plants from four to 

 six years old should be set, as these are able to resist the 

 encroachments of grass and weeds. Where game may do 

 damage, deciduous trees of such height should be planted 

 as to prevent the animals from touching and eating the 

 top shoots of the young trees. To raise trees of that 

 size, tree nurseries are necessary. These should be loca- 

 ted at or near the places to be planted, so that the con- 

 siderable risk and expense of transporting larger trees, 

 and to acclimatize the young trees to the natural condi- 

 tions of their future habitat may not be unnecessarily in- 

 creased. The ground for these nurseries should be 

 plowed and subsoiled in fall to a depth, of from fifteen to 

 eighteen inches, and exposed to the action of the air, 



