34 THE PRACTICAL PLANTER. 



5th. In favourable situations, and although 

 the upper soil may be scanty, we are not to 

 despair of rearing timber of some kind in 

 perfection ; inasmuch as the substratum is 

 frequently found of a kindly nature, and 

 in which the roots of trees find pasture, and 

 take deep hold. 



6th. The most untoward of all soils for 

 the produce of timber in high perfection, 

 is an irony till of little depth, lying on a 

 retentive subsoil which upholds a poisonous 

 ochry water, and which stagnates on the 

 surface, or remains latent in the body of 

 the soil which is the pasture of the roots, 

 contracting the mouths of the fibres, con- 

 taminating the juices, and finally operating 

 to the destruction of the tree, by poisoning 

 it, and .hastening its dissolution. 

 * In addition to these observations, before 

 descending to consideration of the particular 

 soils adapted to the different kinds of trees, 

 I shall remark, that, excepting peat-bogs 

 and other drainable marshes, which may be 

 converted into culturable fields, and ren- 

 dered highly productive of grain, by the 

 excellent mode of draining now in practice, 



