CHAPTER X. 



At what Season, of the Year should we Plant. 



This is another very important matter to be well considered by the 

 intending planter before beginning operations. Much, of course, wiU 

 depend upon the locality in which the proposed plantation is situated, as 

 to the best time for planting, in consequence of the geographical position 

 of the country giving us early and late seasons, according as our latitude 

 is north or south. Again, the rainy seasons here are so variable, bbth as 

 to their periods of commencement and duration, that much will depend 

 upon personal local observation at the time as to the best season for 

 planting. Under these circumstances, therefore, it must be understood 

 that the remarks under this head are to be accepted in a general way 

 only, from which, with local observations combined, a fair estimate may 

 always be arrived at by the intelligent planter as to the most suitable 

 time at which to put out his trees. 



Of course, it is always an easy matter for those who are planting on a 

 small scale to time their operations in accordance with the condition of 

 the season, and in cases such as this no real risk may be run; but 

 where the operations are upon an extensive scale, planting has frequently 

 to be done at great disadvantages, and often at times when the forester 

 knows that he is working under grave chances of failure in the results. 

 As a rule, however, there will generally be found sufficient seasonable 

 weather for the amoimt of planting which is likely to be perf prmed by 

 the land-owners of the country. 



There is at present considerable difference of opinion as to the proper 

 time for planting in the colony generally— as to whether it should be in 

 autumn or towards spring. Now, there can be no doubt whatever that 

 if the plants are raised with a hardy constitution in the nursery, the 

 sooner they are put out in their permanent sites at the beginning of the 

 rainy season, the more likely are they to establish themselves on the 

 ground beyond injury from the dry weather of summer ; but where 

 plants are naturally of a tender nature, thereby necessitating their being 

 reared in houses or under some kind of protection, it would be simple 

 folly to put them out early in winter on cold bleak spots in the planta- 

 tion. By doing so, would simply mean their destruction by the first 

 blast of cold wind or frost. In this case, then, there is no alternative 

 but to delay planting such kinds of trees until winter is well over, and 

 the frost past for the season. As such kinds are generally grown in 

 pots, no very material check to their vitality will take place in removal, 



