CONCLUSION. 277 



is really produced is not well known, but that there 

 is a superiority of growth promoted by draining and 

 spreading the excavations on the surface beyond what 

 would be expected from such apparently unimportant 

 operations, cannot be gainsaid. The surface - feeding 

 of tree roots has, however, so much engrossed the 

 writer's attention of late years, that he regards it as 

 a branch of forestry requiring infinitely more atten- 

 tion than it has hitherto received. 



Sixteenth. Eidge or mound planting is a system 

 attended with such favourable results as highly to 

 commend itself, and is certain to increase in favour. 

 It consists simply in laying up the ground in mounds 

 or ridges, varying in breadth from 6 to 20 or 30 feet, 

 accordinfT to the wetness and fall of the lijround. 

 Much ground too wet for the growth of larch, or 

 indeed trees of any kind, is thereby rendered capable 

 of OTOwing: excellent wood. The advantaiies of the 

 practice are, that on level ground, with little fall for 

 drainage, the roots of the trees are raised above the 

 level of the water, and the soil having been neces- 

 sarily broken in the operation of laying up the ridges, 

 renders it suitable for the plants. The ridges, too, 

 if high, impart to the ground a kind of hill and 

 vale character, which all trees prefer, and grow better 

 in than in soil of equal quality in a flat and level 

 form. 



Seventeenth. The uprooting or blowing down of trees, 

 especially young and healthy ones, is always a matter 

 of deep regret and much solicitude ; and as no one 



