ILLUSTRATED GUIDE. 115 



same process is continued when deemed advisable ; at 

 one time a whole row, at another every alternate tree is 

 removed, until, at the end of a certain number of years, 

 the work is done, and you have a forest or wood, with 

 the trees all standing sixteen feet apart. 



Conifers should not exceed two feet in height when 

 set out. "Walnuts, oaks, hickories, and chesnuts, if it is 

 thought good to transplant them, should be of the same 

 height. 



Plants may be easily procured, either for setting out in 

 the nursery, or for permanent planting, without the 

 trouble of growing them from seed. I recommend all 

 who are not gardeners to buy their seedlings, for the 

 cultivation of them demands as much care as does a 

 garden. 



Plants of every sort come to hand quite safely by 

 post, now-a-days, and the charge is very moderate. 

 Trees sent by the mails take root freely, and many 

 mistakes, as well as great waste of pains, are avoided. 



Before ending this chapter, a word on the much dis 

 puted question : what season is the best for planting ? 

 My own opinion is, that both spring and autumn present 

 so many advantages and disadvantages, that neither one 

 nor the other can claim our preference. 



CHAPTER XYI. 



PLANTINa CERTAIN SPECIAL SOILS, 



Certain soils are unfit for cultivation : some, because 

 they are too stony, others, because they are too wet, 

 These soils will pay best in wood ; in fact, planting is 

 the only way of utilising them. I have already spoken 

 of the necessity of re-planting the denuded faces of the 



