[ 2I 9 ] 



were out of danger. This excited them to fur- 

 ther attempts. 



On the fpots where they intended to raife new 

 plantations from feeds and acorns, they laid on a 

 thick coat of marie and clay, which, after being' 

 rough fpread, and lying a winter in that ftatc, 

 was made fine, and ploughed in juft before plant- 

 ing. By thefe means the foil became fixed, and 

 in a little time covered with grafs and herbage; 

 fo that there arc now vaft plantations of firs, oak, 

 and foreft-trees, in the mod healthy and vigorous 

 ftatc, where within my memory ten acres of land 

 would not maintain a fingle fheep three months. 



But the benefit of plantations, whether of fhrubs, 

 copfc, or trees, is not confined to the immediate 

 advantage, or even the future value of the wood. 

 By annually fhedding a great number of leaves, 

 which the winds difperfe, and the rain wafh into 

 the foil, it is confiderably improved ; and when- 

 ever fuch copfes have been ftubbed up, the ground 

 (however unfruitful before planting) has thereby 

 been fo enriched as to bear excellent crops for many 

 years, without the additional help of manure. 



How much land-owners are intcreftcd in plant- 

 ing wafle or barren fpots, I need not mention ; and 



nothing 



