The principles here stated are applicable to the planting of large as well as small trees, and in fact to any terrestrial species of plant. There are, however, many modifications in practice, some of which may be noticed as proper under certain circumstances, and others as only to be condemned under any circumstances whatever.
Small plants are very frequently inserted by the (libber, a cylindrical piece of wood, shod with iron and tapering to a point. This is thrust into the soil, and in the hole formed by this means the roots of the plant are introduced, and a portion of soil pressed towards them by a second stroke of the dibber. It is evident, however, that by this procedure the roots cannot be in the most natural position; they are in fact the very reverse of being spread out to the best advantage. In the case of very valuable species the spade or planting trowel is used in preference to the (libber. The latter has nothing to recommend it on the score of good principles in planting; the expedition with which it can be employed is all that can be said in its favour.
Besides the spade and dibber, various other implements are used in planting, such as the diamond dibber, a pointed plate of steel with a short iron handle; a mattock, used in stony soils ; and some others, adopted according to circumstances. In all cases, however, where the spade can be used, it is undoubtedly the best instrument- If the soil be unfit for allowing the use of the spade, it should be rendered fit previously ; and if some time be lost and expense iucurredi by using it instead of smaller and more expeditious, but at the same time more cramping implements as regards the roots, the difference will certainly be ultimately In favour of a proper disposition of the roots by means of the spade.
With regard to the preparation of the soil for plantations, it is found that trenching the ground is attended with profit where it la practised for the purpose of rearing wood for fuel and small timber. This mode of preparation ought likewise to be adopted where trees are Intended to be planted for ornament or for shelter. It has not been generally attempted in the case of extrusive plantations of heath or rugged mountain-land. It may, however, be affirmed with
out hesitation that great advantages would be derived from the operation being more extensively performed. Something more than merely burying the route of hard-woodedplants is thought necessary, and accordingly pits are made. It is scarcely necessary to observe that if these are nut of considerable size, the direct progress of the roots is soon obstructed. The time required to form these pits as they ought to be, would be sufficient to regularly trench double their area.
The expense of trenching the intermediate spaces will be compensated by the greater return derived from the nurse plants, such as larch, when they come to be removed.
Plantations are generally planted thick in the first instance, and with various species of trees. Larch, Scotch fir or pine, mountain Rah, &c., are interspersal amongst the hard wood for shelter, or as nurses. Laburnum is also useful for preserving the other sorts from the depredations of hares, as they prefer the laburnum to every other bark. Nuraes are generally left till they are lit for varione purposes for which small timber is applicable. They should be planted closer to each other than to the principal trees intended to constitute the more permanent part of the plantation.
After all the care of the planter and the skill with which the operation of removal may have been effected, much of the success of a plantation depends on the proper adaptation of species to the soils and situation, most suitable to them.
The following remarks upon some of the timber-trees principally cultivated may be useful.
The oak, Quercus robur, and Q. sessillfiera, prefers strong or even eleyey loans ; any soil not wet or chalky.
Beech, lirgut tylratica, calcareous soils, gravelly or sandy loam ; dislikes stiff clay.
Elm, Glottis campestris, tr. °Zebra, Ir. montane, attains, near the banks of rivers, a large size; thrives in most soils.
Ash, Frarinus excelsior, prefers a dry subsoil ; dislikes stiff clay. Plane, Plateaus orientalis, rich warm soil, tolerably moist, but not retentive.