228 
PLANTING FOREST TREES. 
roots that were at one time six or sever) inches below the surface are 
now a considerable height above the ground. I am of opinion, that 
were the plants, which are planted in the situations before named, 
put a few inches deeper, the success in planting would be equal to 
what it was forty years ago, and the nurserymen would not be called 
upon so repeatedly to replant and fill up as they now so frequently 
are. Should the plants survive, after being planted in this manner, 
it requires a lapse of years before they are established, and usually 
they become stunted, in which state they often continue through 
their lives. But if planted at a sufficient depth to ensure the growth 
of the plants, and should it he rather more than is considered to he 
the standard, they will assuredly make an effort to correct them¬ 
selves, and those very roots which caused the doubts will very soon 
appear on the surface, as explained in the annexed diagram, and in 
situations where the under stratum is rocky, a tree will afterwards be 
raised from its original position many feet. How can we perform 
the operation in a worse and more absurd manner, on one of the 
high situations, than by putting a plant in so shallow as barely to 
cover the roots P how is the plant to survive, should the ensuing sea¬ 
son he below the average in point of drought ? From experience, we 
know that a few inches of additional earth will ensure success, and 
from experience we know likewise, that if the plant survives, the 
roots will approach the surface. 
Whoever will take the trouble to examine a number of trees, will, 
I am certain, nurture the hypothesis I have advanced, and come to 
the opinion, that it is more advisable to plant deep enough to ensure 
the life of the plant, and not to be led into an error by shallow plant¬ 
ing, in situations where a contrary practice is to be preferred. 
Figure 20, (a) represents 
a tree planted six inches 
under the surface forty years 
ago; (6) is the same tree 
with the fine principal roots 
acting as props to the stem, 
which they have elevated 
two feet above the ground 
level, as marked (c). Now 
as this is the case eighty 
times out of ninety, what 
•> 
have we to fear, should the 
young plants be inserted a 
few inches deeper into the 
20 
