CHAPTER VI. 



Some General Remarhs on Matters to he Considered Previous 



to Planting. 



PiiANTiNG is an operation upon whioli too much care and sound practical 

 judgment cannot be brought to bear ; and it is as well to understand at 

 the beginning that unless these are applied, the result will not turn out 

 a success. 



In the first place, the land to be operated on should be well protected 

 by a proper and secure fence, otherwise animals will get amongst the plants 

 and destroy them. In the second place, a deep and free bed must be 

 provided for the roots of the trees, as if this be not attended to, the 

 plants have not a chance of penetrating their roots down out of the 

 reach of the summer's drought, and hence failures will ensue. In the 

 third place, the character of the land to be operated upon should be well 

 considered, and only such kinds of trees planted as are likely to succeed 

 upon it ; and if there are various descriptions of land embraced in the 

 enclosure, trees of sorts adapted to succeed on each description of soil 

 should only be planted. In the fourth place, the plants of each sort 

 used should be of the very best and healthiest description, and no 

 inferior ones planted — as wherever such are used, the crops will be 

 worthless in proportion. In the fifth place, the work of planting the 

 young trees should be carried out on the soundest and safest principles 

 known, as if it be done in a careless and unworkmanlike manner the 

 result will be sure to be unsatisfactory. Bad or unskilled planting is always 

 found out, and even although the plants grow to a certain extent, there 

 is generally an indescribable something about the trees, combined with 

 probably a very sickly appearance, which points to careless or unskilful 

 treatment in the first instance. 



To the planter, the season of the year adapted for his operations is one 

 of anxious thought, study, and looking out on every point bearing on 

 the success of his work— at least it ought to be with every one anxious 

 to become a successful planter. Careless or hurried work is always 

 expensive, and only leads to serious loss and great disappointment. 



