180 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
the whole bed, throwing the mould always the same way or side ; the gardner pre¬ 
sently follows him, having his little plants brought to hand, and, with his little rule 
or gage in hand, setts each tree at an equal distance, placing as many in a row as 
the bed will receive, spreading out the little roots of each tree, and drawing a little 
mould over them to keep them in their right place, untill the third man comes, 
who, with a broad weeding-knife or trowel, draws down the mould upon the roots, 
gently patting it down, and smoothing it with what he has in his hand. Thus they 
follow each other successively, and, when a little used to it, will make very quick 
work, setting out several hundreds in a day. This method is more properly de¬ 
sign’d for those trees that are to be set out at two or more feet distance; those of 
six or eight inches distance only may be set by a line and large setting-stick, espe¬ 
cially if there be any great quantity of them ; but this method is allow’d of more 
for expedition than convenience. 
LAST TRANSPLANTING INTO GROVE OR WALK. 
When the Firr is to have its last remove, either into grove or walk, the ground 
may be prepared as already directed for the nursery ; and because the soil can’t of 
itself be thought of depth enough both to bed and cover the roots (being now 
much larger than when first placed in the nursery), some of the adjacent mould 
must be brought (the tree once placed) and thrown about the roots. Some, with 
good success, digg only a hole in the lay ground, about three or four foot over 
where they design the tree shall stand; the grassy sodd or scurf they throw aside, 
and with a spade they prepare and break the soyl, upon which they sett the tree, 
and cover the roots with mould brought elsewhere, of which a coup or box carr- 
full will serve for each tree: others, instead of this earth brought by carrs, make 
another hole near, that the tree is to be placed into, the soyl of which they prepare, 
as already said, and lay of this what is sufficient upon the roots of the tree, filling 
up the hole again with the grassy sodds of both places. 
Upon all removalls, as well out of the seed-bed as nurserys, great care must be 
had of the roots, with their fibers, to have as many convey’d away with the tree as 
possible; the same is to be don by the mould, or sodd, sticking to them; nor must 
they be taken up only, but convey’d from place to place very gently, that the earth 
and root may be preserv’d together. They must, therefore, by no means be pluckt 
up out of the seed-bed (as some do), but by digging about, undermine a quantity 
of them, heave them, with one or more spades, out of the ground, and then sepe- 
rate them gently with the hand. In digging up larger trees out of the nursery, it 
is best to be don by two spademen, who, with the edge of the spade towards the 
tree, digg a smal trench round, about a foot, or foot and a halfe distance, from the 
stem of the tree. When they have gon round thus, they then (prizing one against 
another) raise it gently out of the ground. 
METHOD OF PLANTING. 
The way of setting or planting the Firr Tree is the very same, in all respects, 
with that of other trees; it loves to stand shallow, the roots not above three inches 
deeper than the surface of the earth; the soyl or mould to be layd so high (or 
thick) over the roots as that when settled or trodden down, they may be cover’d 
about six inches. This is meant by trees of six or seven years old ; those of three 
or four need be cover’d but three or four inches. 
METHOD OF SUPPORTING THE YOUNG TREES. 
And, whereas, the Firr Trees, by swagging and tossing with the wind upon their 
first transplanting (especially if anything large), are very apt to work a hole in the 
earth about their stems, thereby loosening, if not breaking their roots ; it’s neces¬ 
sary they should be often view’d, and that after high winds, when, if leaning any¬ 
way, they are to be set strait again, by inclining them the contrary way, and 
pressing the earth close to the stems with your heel. But if the trees be of any 
height or largeness, then two men must attend them—one to bring them forward, 
and the other with a beetle, or large mallett, to beat the earth close to the body of 
the tree, clapping a sod of earth (if they think needfull) to that side it inclines 
most to. Two men, at this rate, will cure some hundreds of trees in a day’s time. 
This way is thought preferable, in all respects, to that of staking; which (besides 
the charge and trouble that staking brings) cannot but injure the trees, by reason of 
the softness of the bark. 
