126 PLANTING OF WASTE LAND. 



make one serve the purpose of all, by carrying it in 

 a crooked or zigzag direction. Sometimes, however, 

 it will happen, from the shape of the ground, or 

 some other circumstance, that a crooked ditch is the 

 only one which will answer. When this is the case, 

 the turns should be made round instead of angular, 

 and as gradual and easy as possible. When one 

 ditch opens into another, the corners formed by their 

 junction should also be rounded. It is hardly ne- 

 cessary to add to these remarks, that however well 

 ditches be made at first, they will occasionally re- 

 quire to be scoured and repaired. 



Waste land is generally covered with heath, 

 furze, or broom, and these are often in such a state 

 of luxuriance, as to render it necessary to clear them 

 away before proceeding to plant, otherwise the least 

 expensive way of performing that work will be pre- 

 cluded. The easiest mode of clearing away heath 

 is to burn it. This should be done in autumn, or 

 early in spring, and at least three years before we 

 intend to begin planting. This interval is necessa- 

 ry, in order that the surface of the ground may be 

 again covered with vegetation. I have never seen 

 young trees succeed well, when planted while the 

 surface was entirely bare from the effects of burning. 

 The reason seems to be, that the ground is then in 



