MARITIME SITUxVTIONS. 67 



produces an open hole right round at tlie collar of the plant, 

 which allows the air to penetrate the roots. In such cir- 

 cumstances the roots make little progress from the tenacity of 

 the under soil. The holes fill with water, which in winter freezes 

 to the roots of the plants when frost sets in, while the plants are 

 often laid almost on their broad side, and make little or no 

 growth for a year or two. On the contrary, they are likely to 

 succumb to the influences of the weather from want of nourish- 

 ment, which merely for the want of preparation of the soil the 

 roots are unable to search for. Very different results may be 

 expected when the ground is well trenched or ploughed and 

 drained, as from the looseness and dryness of the soil on the 

 surface and about the roots, the trees will have a chance of send- 

 ing out their spongioles in search of food, and making good root 

 growth, which enables them to stand the severity of the storm as 

 well as to make upward growth. Without good roots it is, in 

 the writer's opinion, impossible for trees to grow in the face of 

 severe winds, these being their main stay and support, and good 

 roots they cannot have unless the soil in which they are planted, 

 when of a wet tenacious nature, is thoroughly loosened and 

 drained. On the other hand, when the soil and subsoil is of a 

 light or sandy nature and perfectly dry, neither trenching, 

 ploughing, or draining will be necessary, because it is necessary 

 to retain as much firmness in the ground as possible, so that the 

 plants may be firmly planted. 



When the planting operations have been finished, and the 

 plants have attained a size of affording some protection to one 

 another from the storm, a great measure of success will liave 

 been attained. But there is still an important part to perform, 

 viz., the keeping and maintaining of the plantation, which will 

 require great attention and judicious management until the trees 

 have arrived at timber size. If the trees are neglected in any 

 way, say from want of timely thinning, and allowed to be drawn 

 up, their after chance of success and renovation by late thinning 

 will be very small indeed ; they will probably either be perished 

 to such an extent as to become stunted, or on being thinned tlie 

 wind may entirely overthrow them. When drawn up, they will 

 have but small roots to struggle against the wind, and thus be 

 the less able to withstand a storm. Having made these general 

 remarks, derived from experience and observation, the writer will 

 now refer specially to several plantations, of different ages, grow- 

 ing in very exposed situations, and containing various varieties of 

 trees and shrubs, some of which are doing very well, others 

 moderately so, and some to a certain extent failing to give the 

 satisfactory results expected. 



The first to be mentioned is a small plantation of about three 

 acres, situated about four miles from the sea, and about GOO feet 



