Planting. 
27 
If we determine to plant small plants from the nursery 
instead of sets, it is necessary that the land should first be 
cleaned. The plants should then be planted closely rather than 
sparsely. The distance must be regulated by the size of the 
plant, and by various other circumstances which we will not 
deal with at present ; but it is absolutely necessary that they 
should be protected from the ravages of ground game by the 
erection of wire netting around the plantation. If the plants 
are covered with a preparation of tar — say three feet from 
the ground — it would be a more expensive process, and 
probably in so very young a plant the tar would be somewhat 
detrimental to its growth. 
In planting sets, which we think is the most desirable plan, 
there may be said to be two processes. The first and simplest 
is to point the set slightly and force it into the ground a 
distance, of perhaps one-sixth of its length. This no doubt can 
be done where the soil is extremelv moist and soft, and it does 
not appear that under these circumstances there is any tendency 
to peel back the bark in so doing ; but where these very 
favourable conditions do not exist, it is wiser to dig down a 
narrow hole of some eight inches in diameter with the common 
u drain ” or “ trenching ” tool. 
The following plan might then be adopted. A gang 
of four men, one with a short trenching tool to dig the first 
fourteen inches of soil, to be followed by number two who 
will dig the hole still deeper with a narrower tool to the 
distance of 2 ft. or 2^ ft. He in his turn will be followed 
by number three to hold the set upright while four fills in 
the loose soil and stamps it down. If this be carefully done 
the soil around the tree will be sufficiently loose, and will 
be liable to give the new roots a better chance of growth. 
This is the better, though more expensive system, since the 
subsoil, never having been previously broken up, is com- 
paratively hard, and it is much more difficult for the tender 
rootlets to penetrate. 
In addition to this, if the plants are soaked as has been 
advised before planting, no injury will be done to the small 
roots, which are by this time probably extending some quarter 
to half an inch in a lateral direction. 
If it is not possible to protect the sets by wire fencing or 
otherwise, it may be necessary that they should be preserved 
from horses or ground game. Some foresters assert that tar 
is detrimental, and that cow dung only adheres for a very short 
time ; but they suggest no alternative. I find that tar, mixed 
with coarse unrefined mineral oil in equal quantities, lasts well. 
It does not penetrate the bark, the pores of which are wet 
with sap, and does apparently no injury whatsoever. 
