462 CruicJcsli \an&$ Practical Planter* 



gigantic, dry and rich. Abundance of fern indicates the 

 most fertile quality of any soil that is to be met with in an 

 uncultivated state. Few trees will grow freely where slate 

 abounds, or over freestone that lies near the surface. 



Chap. VI. Preparation of the Ground for the Reception of 

 the Plants. The easiest mode of clearing away heath is to 

 burn it. Ploughing in rough strong land, and trenching in 

 barren ground, are preparations for wood " of very doubtful 

 utility." In a note, the author says : — 



" By this it is not meant that trenching of barrenl and may not accele- 

 rate, in a considerable degree, the growth of the trees planted on it. But 

 with regard to firs, especially, it may be doubted whether any advantage 

 can be gained by such acceleration, that is not more than counterbalanced 

 by the timber being deteriorated in quality by this means." (p. 129.) 



We do not think there is the least occasion to be alarmed 

 at any deterioration that can be produced in this way, at least 

 in barren ground ; and we are surprised that a practical man 

 should have countenanced such an idea. 



The Scotch pine, all the fir tribe, the birch, alder, and 

 mountain ash, may be removed from the seed-bed, to their 

 final situations, in their second year, as successfully as at any 

 period whatever : not so with the ash, elm, sycamore, beech, 

 and oak ; which, the author says, he is unable to clear up. 



" The difficulty is rendered the more hard of solution, from the fact, that all 

 the deciduous trees above-mentioned, with the exception of the oak, which 

 is averse to removal under any circumstances, may be transplanted in thou- 

 sands and tens of thousands in the nursery, without almost a single failure, 

 at the same age at which, if they are transported to waste land, three fourths 

 of them will perish. The knowledge of the fact, however unable though 

 we be to account for it, is sufficient to direct us in practice ; and plainly 

 warns us, in forming plantations of ash, elm, plane tree, and beech, to make 

 use of such plants only as have stood some time (two years at the least) 

 in nursery lines, after having been removed from the seed-bed." (p. 135.) 



Pitting is the oldest and most generally known system of 

 planting. 



" Sometimes one person undertakes the whole operation, and, in that 

 case, he uses a cross made of two small sticks, which instrument is laid on 

 the mouth of the pit to keep the plant in an erect posture, while the earth 

 is put upon its roots. This substitution of a stick for a man is not, how- 

 ever, to be recommended but in cases of absolute necessity." (p. 137.) 



The pitting system should be adopted in every instance in 

 which the plants exceed two years old ; and no other method 

 ought to be attempted when we have to do with the ash, elm, 

 sycamore, and beech. The notching or slit system, of which 

 there are two varieties, was introduced about a century ago ; 

 and is performed by making, with a common spade, two 

 notches or slits, crossing each other; bending down the 



