PLANTATIONS. 71 



But when Plantations on a large scale are de- 

 sired, and when the planter considers his posterity 

 more than himself, there can be no doubt at all, 

 that, on certain qualities of soil, tolerably thick 

 planting is best. And if it be desired to have a 

 race of fine noble Oaks, they must be put in very 

 thick, and the planter must not expect, during a 

 life of average duration, any profit at all; for, in 

 order to secure his object, he must, first, prepare 

 the ground well: and next, he must either sow 

 acorns, or he must put in an immense number of 

 plants and, in either case, he will incur a heavy 

 outlay He must, for the first seven years, keep 

 the ground clean, and he must plant along with 

 the Oak, a selection of those kinds of trees, as 

 nurses, which are best adapted to the purpose, and 

 not those which might probably, at the earliest 

 period, find their way into the local market, and 

 make the best price when there ; although these 

 points should not be left out of consideration. 



But now, the question as to planting, or sow- 

 ing, or, if the former be preferred, that of. the 

 distance of the plants, being settled, the next 



