PLANTING AND REGENERATION 117 



adapted for such plants is that of- slitting or notching. 

 Almost all methods of planting are modifications of one 

 or the other of these two classes, and will be dealt with 

 in connection with them. 



Pit-planting consists in taking out holes about a foot 

 square or so, according to the size of the plants used. These 

 pits should be dug previous to or at the time of planting. 

 On cold stiff clay or loams they are best dug early in the 

 autumn, and the ground planted the following spring, as 

 frost is thus able to pulverise and sweeten the soil taken 

 out. In dry loose soil, on the other hand, which contains 

 none too much moisture, it is probably better to defer digging 

 untU the time of planting arrives, as the open pits are apt 

 to become too dry in spring weather. A great point in 

 connection with hole-digging is that of taking them out 

 deep enough to allow the roots to be placed in their natural 

 position, and without being bent at right angles at the 

 bottom of the pit. When made too shallow, not only are 

 the roots twisted to fit the hole, but the soil returned is apt 

 to bake and crack in dry weather, or the holes will hold 

 water in wet weather, which keeps the roots in a more or 

 less waterlogged condition. The cost of pitting runs from 

 30s. to 50s. per acre, exclusive of plants, and, although this 

 cost is high compared with slitting, it is probably the 

 cheapest on stiff heavy ground, or soil overrun with weeds 

 and surface growth. 



Slit-planting consists in making cuts with an ordinary 

 spade, lifting the turf adjoining them, and inserting the roots 

 of the plant in the cuts so made. Two methods are 

 employed — one known as the " L " and the other as the " T " 

 system, both of which are too well known to require 

 describing. The " L " system is much the best, as the roots 

 can be placed perpendicularly in the cuts, without bending 

 or twisting. The great thing, of course, is to employ skilled 

 and careful workmen in the planting, as careless men 

 invariably double up the roots, or neglect to tread them 

 firmly in before leaving. The cost of slit-planting runs 

 from 10s. to 15s. per acre, exclusive of plants, or from £2 

 to £3 less than that of pitting. Notching is a method 

 employed with very small seedlings, and consists in making 



