Indian Forest Records. 
[Vol. VIII 
n 
Planting and sowing at stake .—Planting holes, locally known as 
“ thalis ”, are usually spaced six feet by six feet apart. As loosened soil 
and freedom from roots are the main factors in making a plant come on 
quickly, the deeper the holes the better. (Mr. Russell holds that it pays 
to make the “ thalis ” 18 inches square and deep though the Forest 
Department does not usually make them so large.) The holes should 
be dug at the end of the cold weather and the soil, which has been freed of 
weeds and stones, left for about a month at the side of the hole but filled 
in again before heavy rain occurs, leaving the loosened earth in the middle 
of the “ thali ” standing some six inches higher than the surrounding 
ground to prevent water logging. Plants are lifted from the nursery 
bed with a handful of mould ; this is effected by watering the bed 
more heavily than usual for two or three days before lifting. 
The best time for planting is the end of May or beginning of June 
for localities above 5,000 ft., the middle of June up to the middle of July 
in the middle and foot hills and the same period in the plains except that 
it is safe there to plant up to the end of August. The best size of plant 
is from four to six inches high. It might be thought that such small 
seedlings would not stand planting in the open but experience has shown 
in Bengal that the only safe and successful way of planting is to put out 
small seedlings. A few kinds may safely be kept in nurseries for a year 
or more ; they are Bucklandia, Cryptomeria, Juglans and perhaps Michelia. 
They will be uncovered and exposed to full light during the open season 
preceding their removal to the forest. 
In planting great care should be taken to ensure that the roots are not 
doubled up and that the level of the earth round the plant reaches the 
same height in the “ thali ” as it did in the bed. When planting is finished 
and the soil has been thoroughly well pressed down, the centre of the 
“ thali ” should stand only very slightly above the surrounding ground 
level, this to prevent its settling down into a basin but it can be easily 
over-done with the result that the upper part of the roots become 
exposed after heavy rain. For sowing at stake the “ thali” should be 
prepared in the same way, the seeds in each “ thali ” being sown well 
apart, so that excess seedlings can be transplanted without disturbing 
the one that is left. Stakes of split bamboo or stout sticks, to show the 
position of the “ thali,” should be driven deep into the ground with 
a mallet and not merely pressed in by hand. 
Boxes made of \ inch light wood and measuring 2 ft. X 18 inches X 
4 inches are used for carrying the seedlings. They are carried on light 
wooden carriers two boxes on each carrier. At the planting site a woman 
or boy works with each pair of planters carrying the seedlings from the 
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