PLANTATIONS. 73 



made ; and it is entirely the planter's fault, if he 

 be not well acquainted with its character, as a 

 nurse for Oak. I say this, because it has been 

 so extensively tested, and its habits are so well 

 known, that no one, having the slightest wish to 

 become acquainted with it, can have failed for 

 want of opportunity. 



I have very often seen the Larch where it has 

 proved an exceedingly bad nurse ; where, in fact, 

 instead of nursing the Oaks, it has destroyed 

 them : but this has, of course, arisen from " mis- 

 management," and might have been avoided. 

 When good, stiff, healthy Oak Plants are put in 

 with Larch only, or but with very few of any 

 other sort, the Larch ought not, in the first 

 place, to be put too near the exact distance 

 can only be determined relatively to that of the 

 Oaks secondly : an advantage should be given 



to the Oaks, if possible, at the start ; either by 

 assigning them a portion of the soil from the land 



intended for the Larch, or in some other way ; 

 after which, if the latter are constantly watched, 

 they will approve themselves very suitable and 

 valuable nurses ; but if they are allowed, as they 



