PREPARATION OF THE GROUND. 



167 



different localities. Our own experience has led to the 

 conclusion that operose preparations, such as trench- 

 ing or ploughing, are in general not required beyond 

 the park, and that the expensive operation of trenching 

 may be confined to the circle of the dressed grounds. 



The principal advantage of trenching and ploughing 

 is their effect in accelerating the growth of the trees, 

 particularly in their earlier stages, and the consequent 

 rapidity in the development of the scenery — a matter 

 of no small importance to gentlemen who wish to see 

 and enjoy the result of their own labors. This effect 

 is generally very marked in the interval between the 

 fifth and fifteenth year from the planting : at a later 

 period, and on good land, it is much less perceptible. 



Trenching is undoubtedly the best means of prepar- 

 ing ground for planting; but as it costs from six to ten 

 pounds sterling per acre, it is too expensive to be ex- 

 tensively adopted. As a substitute, we have found a 

 method of deep plowing, particularly on grass lands, 

 to be very useful. Two plows are required for the 

 operation, which closely resembles subsoil plowing. 

 A deep furrow is first drawn. The first plow next 

 skims off some two or three inches of the turf and soil, 

 turning it over into the open furrow. The second plow 

 then follows in the same furrow as the first plow, cov- 

 ering the turf with four or five inches of soil, and stir- 

 ring the land to the depth of seven or eight inches. 

 By this means the soil is well pulverized, and the turf 

 is so buried as to insure its rotting, and thus affords 

 an excellent manure for the trees. The expense is 

 about twenty-four shillings per acre. 



Draining of wet land is essential to successful plant- 

 ing, and is not to be superseded by any other operation, 



