28 
BULLETIN 475, U. S. DEPAETMEXT OF AGEICULTUEE. 
Like any other method where a plow is used, this is subject to 
limitations; but on account of its rapidity and the success Avhich has 
attended its use, it is worthy of trial, particularly in grassy or sage- 
brush land where the plow can be used. On steep, grassy sidehill 
areas open to grazing by cattle there is a serious drawback to this 
plan; the animals follow the furrows as paths and are likely to 
tramp out a large proportion of the planted stock. 
PIT METHOD. 
The pit method is designed particularly for use in regions which, 
following the planting season, become particularly hot and dry. 
It has been used by the Forest Service mostly in fall planting in 
southern California. It consists in partially preparing the holes in 
advance of the planting operations. Spots are cleared about 16 
inches square and the surface soil stirred to a depth of about 8 
inches. Then in a spot about 8 inches square in the center the soil 
is removed to a depth of from 12 to 16 inches in order to loosen it up 
thoroughly. It is then replaced and a depression left on top. Where 
the original method is adhered to, the work is finished a month or 
more before the time of planting. 
Rain which will saturate the hard ground only to a depth of '1 or 
3 inches will be sufficient to penetrate from 12 to 16 inches in the 
soft soil of the pits. This is one of the most important points in 
their favor. Soil when moist to a depth of 12 inches is suitable for 
planting. Thus, when the contiguous land is not ready for planting 
and may not be for some time, the soil in the pits is moist enough 
to make planting feasible, so that operations may be finished before 
the advent of cold weather. The plants will then have a better 
opportunity to become partially established during the fall. 
The other most valuable feature of pits is that their soil, before 
it becomes packed by rain or snow, will remain moist two or three 
weeks longer than the untilled adjacent soil. Accordingly, trees in 
pits should not, under dry conditions, suffer from lack of moisture 
as soon as those planted on untilled land. Another advantage is 
that the soft earth can be very easily removed when the planting 
operation is in progress, enabling more rapid work and the covering 
of a greater area during the most favorable planting season, which 
is often of short duration. 
Advance preparation of pits in some particulars has decided 
disadvantages. Crews have to be assembled to prepare the spots, 
and again later on for planting: the holes have to be dug twice, 
which makes the operation expensive: and when the planting is in 
progress some of the spots previously prepared may be missed. In 
Forest Service operations this method has been discontinued: be- 
