72 ON PLANTING GROUND 
subsoil. In such, the Scotch pine and Norway spruce are 
most suitable ; the subsoil in such places is often at the depth 
of six or eight inches, and composed of a sandy gravel or 
clay, a mixture of which, by being brought up to come in 
contact with the roots of the plants is of much advantage, 
particularly for larch; and if the spots are prepared in 
autumn, and the plants inserted in spring, their success is 
commonly certain. 
The only method of bringing up a proper mixture of soil 
in some parts is by the operation of the common spade. In 
some ground, however, the pure peaty surface is much shal- 
lower, and a stroke or two with a mattock or tramp pick 
will penetrate into the subsoil, and form a mixture of soil 
more speedily. Where the cost of preparing the ground is so 
great, the plants should always be of the best description, 
picked from those that are transplanted, and of a size suffi- 
cient to cope with the herbage. 
The following is the usual number of plants for an imperial 
acre, and their prices :— 
1500 native Scotch pine, two years trans- 
planted, at 10s., : . £015 0 
1000 larch picked two- year seedling, one 
year transplanted, . ; 0 8 O 
500 Norway spruce, two-year eadlag: ten 
years transplanted, at 12s., ‘ . . 0 6 0 
£1 9 «0 
The price of the labour per acre is often equal to that of 
the plants; all depending on the nature of the herbage, soil, 
and rate of wages in the district. 
On planting ground where timber has recently been felled.— 
The formation of healthy plantations on ground that has 
lately been cleared of a close crop of timber is perhaps the 
most difficult of any in ordinary practice, particularly if the 
timber recently remoyed has been of the pine tribe. In 
course of time the land improves for plants as the roots and 
