=Laying out the Boundary.=—Before commencing actual planting operations several preliminaries must be attended to. These will include (1) laying out the boundary, (2) clearing the ground of rough-growing vegetation, (3) drainage where necessary, (4) fencing, and (5) laying out such roads as may be necessary for the efficient working of the plantation. For the benefit of the trees, for shelter purposes, and for the general appearance of the landscape, it would be well were more attention paid to the laying out of the sites for new plantations. In many cases, however, there is no choice in the matter, the proprietor saying, Here is a field that is of no great value for agricultural purposes, plant it up. But in the case of hillside or moorland planting the matter is usually different, the choice of ground, size of plantation, and method of planting being left entirely in the hands of the forester. Many considerations will tend to determine the position of boundaries—bounds of property, proximity to roads, public paths, and the existence or future probabilities of modes of transit, all being more or less significant factors. First, however, it is advisable to take into consideration when planting hillside or moorland, the shelter to be afforded to cultivated land in the neighbourhood, but a combination of this with the aforementioned considerations will be all-important. The form of the outline must also be laid out with due regard to the prevailing wind, and should always present a convex side towards it, as it is obvious that on striking such a curve the force of the wind would be divided and expend itself in two opposite directions, thereby losing much of its destructive power. Blending one curve with another should be strictly observed, and continuous straight lines should be avoided, not only for appearance sake, but as it is well known that the most destructive force of the wind concentrates on such outlines. [Illustration: HILLSIDE WITH PLANTING ARTISTICALLY ARRANGED] [Illustration: SAME HILLSIDE WITH STIFFLY ARRANGED PLANTATION] =Woodland Roads.=—These are necessary for access to the wood when thinning, the removal of timber and firewood, and for sporting purposes. They should either be pegged out or formed before planting operations have been commenced, and need neither be of an elaborate character nor attended with great expense in construction. According to the area of the plantation, so should the roads be arranged, and a considerable saving is effected by laying out the roads and leaving them unplanted. Usually they are made 30 ft. wide, and only require to have the surface equalised and any stagnant moisture removed by drainage.