THE SYSTEMATIC AFFORESTATION OF GREAT BRITAIN. 283 



placed on one side of the pit, and the loose soil on the other side, 

 which will greatly facilitate the speedy insertion of the young trees. 

 Before planting, the turf is usually placed in the bottom of the pit, 

 and, after being chopped into small pieces by a spade, is covered with 

 a few inches of fine soil. 



Moor-pan soil, which is usually found on heathy gravelly ground, 

 is detrimental to the healthy growth of trees and should be broken 

 up. It occurs on gravelly soils which contain a large quantity of 

 oxide of iron, and forms a hard stratum, through which the roots 

 of young trees are unable to penetrate. The best implement for 

 breaking up the pan is the foot-pick, which is driven in to such a 

 depth that the hard crust is broken up. 



Slit or notch planting. — This system of inserting young trees is 

 most frequently practised in hilly ground, and is done by simply 

 cutting the soil or surface with two strokes of the spade or planting- 

 iron, and to the depth of about 5 inches ; thus : L T. 



With the first stroke the spade is inserted in the ground in an 

 almost perpendicular direction, and to the depth of about six inches. 

 It is then withdrawn and inserted at right angles to the first opening, 

 and to a similar depth, and by pressing down the handle of the tool 

 the turf is opened up, and the plant inserted from the blade of the 

 spade towards the other end of the slit. The spade is next carefully 

 withdrawn, and the opening closed by firm tramping of the surface. 

 The operation should be performed by two persons, one to open the 

 notch, and the other to insert the plant and assist in making it firm. 



The planting-iron, which is about 17 inches long and weighing 

 about 3 lb., is chiefly employed in the planting of mountain land, 

 and is most economical on account of the rapidity with 'which it can 

 be used. Holding the iron slackly, the planter strikes it into the 

 ground with a force sufficient to drive the sharp, heart-shaped blade 

 in about 3 or 4 inches. By pressing it down and towards the planter 

 with a slight twist to the right, the left corner of the turf is opened up. 

 Into this opening the roots of the plant are carefully inserted. 

 The iron is then withdrawn and the loosened turf made firm by 

 tramping. 



By this method plants can be inserted in the crevices of rocky 

 ground where it would be impossible to place them in any other way. 

 The planter is supplied with a bag which is slung over the shoulder 

 and hangs down at the back, in which from 500 to 600 plants are 

 carried. On the Lothian hills we have seen fully an acre of ground 

 planted in a day with this tool. 



During favourable weather tree-planting may be most success- 

 fully carried out from about the beginning of October to the end 

 of February, but, generally speaking, autumn planting is to be recom- 

 mended. There are, however, several exceptions, such as on exposed 

 or maritime situations, on water-logged soil, and peat-bog, when 

 spring planting is preferable ; but in all other cases tree-planting 

 in the British Isles should be commenced soon after the fall of the 



VOL. XLV. 



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