Trees and Shrubs 63 



sterile hill, where one would expect only birches 

 and pines to prosper, I have grown good oaks, 

 maples, limes, and firs, and, as they have flour- 

 ished for a period of twelve years, their future 

 growth is reasonably safe.' 



Only on steep declivities, where trenching is 

 impracticable, would I permit, even in the case 

 of solid plantations, the forester's method of 

 planting trees in small single trenches, a style 

 only to be used in ornamental work were abso- 

 lutely necessary. Wherever it is possible without 

 excessive cost, I try to improve the original soil 

 in some degree, but if this is not feasible, I select 

 for planting thereon only such kinds of trees as 

 may be expected to thrive. If time, however, 

 allows, I manure the trenched territory first and 

 plant it with potatoes for one year. I make a point 

 of planting everywhere as closely as possible: 

 first, because the trees thrive better thus; secondly, 

 because I can utilize such a plantation as a nur- 

 sery later on by the removal every year of a part 

 of the young plants which have been too closely 

 set. The quick-growing trees that have grown 

 higher, such as poplars, alders, acacias, etc., should 

 be distributed here and there, always with due 

 regard to the soil, thereby giving from the be- 

 ginning a more finished appearance to the whole 

 mass, but these should be cut down for under- 

 brush later on, the nobler species, the oaks, lin- 



' If there is a foot of earth on top and only sand below, the trench- 

 ing should not be so deep, as it is a good idea to keep the roots as much 

 as possible in the rich earth. 



