THE planter's GUIDE. 



145 



natural hollows in woods, and such like places, where cal- 

 careous earth is sure to be collected. The best way is to 

 take it out in strips or lines of only one spit wide and 

 of the same depth; by which means no material injury 

 ^nll be done to the ground by the operation. 



In supplying such earth, let it be remembered that 

 rich mould is not essentially necessary, and that soil even 

 of a very inferior quality will answer the purpose. Every 

 one must have observed the readiness with which the 

 roots of trees find their way into a mound of earth of any 

 quality whatever that has been stirred, and consequently 

 comminuated, by being forced up beyond the natural 

 level of the surface — a fact which demonstrates in a 

 striking manner the justness of the principle, that to 

 render any soil pervious to air and water, and to render 

 it fertile, are almost synonymous terms. With a mass of 

 earth so prepared, and to between eighteen inches and 

 two feet out beyond the length of the roots, both roots 

 and branches will soon be stimulated to greater multipli- 

 city and more vigorous extension ; and the former may be 

 then safely trusted to seek food for themselves over the 

 natural surface of the ground. Should a still greater 

 range of pabulum or of deepened soil be requisite for 

 particular trees, it will be easy to provide it after the 

 trees are transplanted ; as such masses of earth as these 

 pits contain can be extended at pleasure, and both the 

 shape and the quality of the ground at the same time be 

 improved. 



Supposing the soil and subsoil to be clayey and tena- 

 cious, particular caution must be observed, in trenching, to 

 leave the substratum untouched ; and the safest method in 

 all cases is, to penetrate no deeper than the improved and 

 friable mould extends, which is always permeable by 

 moisture. But should the workmen unfortunately, through 



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