PLANTING. 



115 



which should not be delayed beyond the middle of 

 April. In dry soils, if the expense be not limited to 

 a very low rate, pit-planting should be adopted, and 

 the pits are better to be dug some months previous, 

 in order that the earth may be aerated, and the turf 

 partly rotted. The moist soils may be divided into 

 those which are much disposed to throw the plant 

 from the frosts and thaws, and those which are not ; 

 the former consisting of moory, soft, or spongy earth, 

 upon a retentive subsoil ; the latter, of the firmer, 

 more equable loams, clays, and tills. Unless the 

 plants are large, they should always be slitted into 

 the former soil, and the work performed as soon as the 

 groundbecomes sadded in spring — as, though the late- 

 ness of planting should preclude throwing of pitted 

 plants the first season, they will often be thrown the 

 ensuing winter. Wlien plants are very small, they 

 may be put into the latter, by slitting ; but if middle- 

 sized, or large, they are better pitted. It is of the 

 greatest importance to these moist soils, to have very 

 deep, open ^' drains executed previous to planting, 

 cutting off all the springs at their sources, and, if 

 possible, drying the subsoil to such a degree that 

 water will not stand in the pits. Should this be 



* Covered drains are not adapted for woods, as the matted 

 fibres of the roots, especially of the semi-aquatic trees, very soon 

 enter them and form obstructions. 



H 2 



