42 BULLETIN 475, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



holes in order to take advantage of any shade offered by rocks or 

 brush or of small areas where the soil is particularly good. These 

 points are of special importance on inhospitable sites. 



The planter should follow the digger closely, since this will pro- 

 mote rapidity of work and lessen the possibility of the holes drying 

 out or of missing some of them entirely. The planters should carry 

 their trees in a manner which will preclude the possibility of the 

 roots drying out. Carrying the trees in a bucket with the roots 

 immersed in a puddle made of clay and water is not desirable. The 

 puddle so mats the roots together that they are not well distributed 

 in the planting hole. If the roots are immersed in clear water the 

 effect is somewhat the same. At present the most common, and it is 

 thought the most effective, plan is to carry the trees with the roots 

 surrounded by wet burlap or covered with damp moss. Only lots 

 sufficient to last from one to two hours should be packed around. 

 Large lots are burdensome, the burlap becomes dry, and then the 

 roots. Larger lots of trees, properly stored, should be available at 

 different points on the planting site, from which the planter can 

 replenish his stock when necessary. Water should be on hand also, 

 so that the burlap or moss can be wet occasionally. 



Supervision of Crews. 



The necessity of constant supervision in field planting and seeding 

 can not be emphasized too strongly. Unless it is given, the efforts 

 spent in producing and planting the trees may be entirely lost, for 

 in no other part of the work does the result of carelessness show so 

 clearly. If any of the essential points for successful planting are 

 slighted, the chances of success are greatly reduced at the outset. 

 The technical men can well be employed in supervision only, and 

 the better and more experienced workmen may be made foremen 

 at a higher wage and be charged with supervision. Experience 

 indicates that there should be one man charged with supervision for 

 each crew of from 6 to 10 men. Forest officers, however, should 

 inspect the quality of the work and direct the foreman as to the 

 details. 



Equipment. 



Field planting and sowing necessitates the carrying in stock of 

 considerable equipment for use in actual operations and of tools 

 necessary to keep this equipment in shape. 



SOWING TOOLS. 



The tools most commonly used in preparing the ground for sowing 

 are the mattock, grub hoe, garden or some slightly heavier and more 

 strongly constructed rake, and hazel hoe. The mattock and grub hoe 



