142 



PLANTING OF WASTE LAND. 



Let not the reader, however, mistake my mean» 

 iiig. This system is by no means of universal ap- 

 plication. It can only be adopted with propriety 

 when the plants do not exceed two years old. To 

 apply it to those of a greater age, will, in every in- 

 stance, be attended with disappointment, as it is 

 impossible to make a notch of a sufficient size to 

 contain a large root, without either pruning it too 

 closely, or doubling its fibres, both of which are in- 

 consistent with the free growth of any plant, The 

 use of the system must, therefore, be restricted to 

 the fir tribes and the other species enumerated above, 

 which may be successfully removed from the nur- 

 sery at the age of two years. 



To plant well and expeditiously, in this way, re- 

 quires considerable dexterity on the part of the 

 workman ; and, where raw hands are employed, it 

 will be necessary to have some person to teach and 

 superintend them, otherwise their performance will 

 be far from giving satisfaction. Those who have 

 been previously accustomed to work in the nursery 

 will soon become masters of the process ; but others 

 will require longer time, and more careful instruc- 

 tion. A learner should be taught to put the plants 

 into the notch without doubling their roots, to fix 

 them properly, and to take care not to strip off their 

 bark with the planting-iron. 



