THE FORMATION OF PLANTATIONS, 113 
service in preventing it from spreading from one block to the 
other. This precaution should always be taken in the vicinity 
of a railway, as sparks from passing engines frequently ignite the 
dry grass in adjoining plantations. 
Formation of Local Nurseries. 
The custom of getting plants direct from a public nursery, and 
planting them in all sorts of soils and situations, has a great deal 
to do with the frequent failures and great loss of plants incurred 
in planting hilly and poor ground. In addition to the rough 
treatment they receive in uplifting and transit, and the consequent 
exposure of the roots, the change from a rich soil to thin, hard, 
and poor ground usually found on hill-sides and moorland cannot 
be favourable to the plants starting into a healthy growth until 
several years have elapsed after transplanting has been effected. 
The structure of roots differs a great deal according to the 
soil in which they exist, and it is evident that roots which have 
been developed in a soil of one description are ill adapted for 
carrying on their ordinary functions when suddenly removed to 
a soil of the very opposite character, and new roots must there- 
fore be formed before the plant can extract a proper amount of 
nourishment from the soil. Nor does this change merely affect 
the roots, but the protoplasm throughout the plant has first to 
accommodate and adapt itself to its new and altered conditions 
before it regains its former activity; and until these changes have 
been effected the plant does little more than exist for the first 
year or two after removal. The ravages committed by rabbits 
on plants when first put out are probably due in a great measure 
to their unhealthy and weakened condition from the above 
causes. It has been frequently remarked that self-sown plants 
are not nearly so liable to be touched as planted ones are, and 
there is every reason to suppose that this is chiefly owing to the 
more healthy and vigorous condition of the former during the 
early stages, as, when once the latter have recovered from the 
effects of the move, they are less frequently attacked, or if 
they are, it is usually the weakest plants that suffer. The 
true explanation of this fact I have never seen nor heard, but 
those laws of natural economy which ensure the survival of the 
fittest have probably something to do with it. 
The formation of local nurseries on the site of intended 
VOL. XIII. PART I. H 
