PLANTING 



117 



should they be dipped over head in the puddle, it 

 will not injure them. 



What is of most importance to the success of 

 planting, is to have the soil put very closely in con- 

 tact with all the root-fibre, and these fibres in due 

 natural separation, vdth a little tender mould on the 

 surface ; — not to have water stagnating around the 

 root, at any rate during the first spring ; — to have 

 the planting done in time, to receive a good sadding 

 by rain before the spring droughts commence ; — to 

 prevent rank weeds, furze, &c. from smotheiing the 

 young plants ; — and to exclude or destroy all bestial, 

 as cattle, sheep, rabbits, hares, mice, &c. In keep- 

 ing the latter in check, a few families of foxes are 

 very efficient. 



FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON PRUNING. 



Every forester is aware, that when feeders are 

 pruned oW, they should be cut away as close as 

 possible to, and without tearing the bole. To per- 

 form this without danger of injvuy to the tree, 

 when feeders of considerable size are to be removed, 

 the branch should first be sawn over at about one 

 foot beyond the intended section, and a second sec- 

 tion then performed at the proper place. This re- 



