Making the Lines Straight 197 



Another form of planting-board, described by J. C. 

 Moore, is the equilateral triangle. Three laths or narrow 

 pieces of timber are fastened together so that they form 

 a triangle with the ends projecting, as shown in Fig. 47. 

 Care should be taken to have the 

 distance between each two adjoin- 

 ing corners equal, as this will 

 relieve the necessity of replacing 

 the triangle in the same position. 

 One projecting end is put over the 

 tree stake, and the pins placed 

 in the others. This marks the 

 ^'°'piaoSgtt^treif'^" location of the tree after digging 

 the hole. 

 The trees may be planted in furrows, as explained 

 farther on (page 200). Blake writes (N. J. Circ. No. 14): 

 "If the land is well furrowed out where the trees are to be 

 planted, it will only be necessary to move from two to 

 four shovelfuls of soil in order to make a hole of sufficient 

 width and depth to receive each tree. One man should 

 then hold the tree in place while the other shovels in some 

 of the loose, moist surface-soil about the roots. The trees 

 should be set at sufficient depth to bring the point where 

 the trees were budded just below the surface of the soil. 

 The man holding the tree can make the soil firm about 

 the roots with his feet and hands, and at the same time 

 keep the tree in line both ways. If the line method pre- 

 viously described is used he will only be obliged to sight 

 one way to make sure that the tree is in place. The last 

 one or two shovelfuls of soil should be thrown about the 

 tree loosely and not tramped down. If the land has been 

 properly and -thoroughly prepared, as described, a three- 

 man planting gang should be able to set fifty trees an hour 



