28 BULLETIN 475, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Like any other method where a plow is used, this is subject to 

 limitations; but on account of its rapidity and the success which has 

 attended its use, it is worthy of trial, particularly in grassy or sage- 

 brush land where the plow can be used. On steep, grassy sidehill 

 areas open to grazing by cattle there is a serious drawback to this 

 plan; the animals follow the furrows as paths and are likely to 

 tramp out a large proportion of the planted stock. 



PIT METHOD. 



The pit method is designed particularly for use in regions which, 

 following the planting season, become particularly hot and dry. 

 It has been used by the Forest Service mostly in fall planting in 

 southern California. It consists in partially preparing the holes in 

 advance of the planting operations. Spots are cleared about 16 

 inches square and the surface soil stirred to a depth of about 8 

 inches. Then in a spot about 8 inches square in the center the soil 

 is removed to a depth of from 12 to 16 inches in order to loosen it up 

 thoroughly. It is then replaced and a depression left on top. Where 

 the original method is adhered to, the work is finished a month or 

 more before the time of planting. 



Rain which will saturate the hard ground only to a depth of 2 or 

 3 inches will be sufficient to penetrate from 12 to 16 inches in the 

 soft soil of the pits. This is one of the most important points in 

 their favor. Soil when moist to a depth of 12 inches is suitable for 

 planting. Thus, when the contiguous land is not ready for planting 

 and may not be for some time, the soil in the pits is moist enough 

 to make planting feasible, so that operations may be finished before 

 the advent of cold weather. The plants will then have a better 

 opportunity to become partially established during the fall. 



The other most valuable feature of pits is that their soil, before 

 it becomes packed by rain or snow, will remain moist two or three 

 weeks longer than the untilled adjacent soil. Accordingly, trees in 

 pits should not, under dry conditions, suffer from lack of moisture 

 as soon as those planted on untilled land. Another advantage is 

 that the soft earth can be very easily removed Avhen the planting 

 operation is in progress, enabling more rapid work and the covering 

 of a greater area during the most favorable planting season, which 

 is often of short duration. 



Advance preparation of pits in some particulars has decided 

 disadvantages. Crews have to be assembled to prepare the spots, 

 and again later on for planting; the holes have to be dug twice, 

 which makes the operation expensive; and when the planting is in 

 progress some of the spots previously prepared may be missed. In 

 Forest Service operations this method has been discontinued; be- 



