Book II. FORMING PLANTATIONS. 573 



latter measures only five feet and a half in height, and three inches and tlirce quarters in cir- 

 cumference, at six inches from the ground." {Tr. on Fruit Trees, 4to edit. 144.) The 

 pine and fir tribes receive most check by transplanting; and when removed at the age of 

 four or five years, they seldom arrive at trees afterwards; those we should, on most occa- 

 sions, prefer to sow, especially upon mountainous tracts. But for all trees which stole, 

 and in tolerable soils and situations, planting strong plants, and cutting them down two or 

 three years afterwards, will, we think, all circumstances considered, be found preferable 

 to sowing. 



S647. On the subject of disposing the 2)lants in plantatio7is, there are different opinions ; 

 some advising rows, others quincunx, but the greater number planting irregularly. 

 According to Marshal, ** the preference to be given to the row, or the random culture, 

 rests in some measure upon the nature and situation of the land to be stocked with 

 plants. Against steep hangs, where the plough cannot be conveniently used in cleaning 

 and cultivating the interspaces, during the infancy of the wood, either method may be 

 adopted; and if plants are to be put in, the quincunx manner will be found preferable to 

 any. But in more level situations, we cannot allow any liberty of choice : the drill or 

 row manner is undoubtedly the most eligible."^ {Plant, and Rur. Orn. p. 123.) Pontey 

 considers it of much less consequence than most people imagine, whether trees are 

 planted regularly or irregularly, as in either case the whole of the soil will be occupied 

 by the roots and the surface by the shoots. Sang and Nicol only plant in rows where 

 culture with the horse-hoe is to be adopted. In sowing for woods and copses, the former 

 places the patches six feet asunder and in the quincunx order. " It has been demon- 

 strated {Farmer s Mag. vii. 409.), that the closest order in which it is possible to place a 

 number of points, upon a plain surface, not nearer than a given distance from each other, 

 is in the angles of hexagons with a plant in the centre of each hexagon." Hence it is 

 argued, that this order of trees is the most economical ; as the same quantity of ground 

 will contain a greater quantity of trees, by 15 per cent, when planted in this form than 

 in any other. {Gen. Rep. ii. 287.) It is almost needless to observe, that hedge plants 

 should be placed at regular distances in the lines, and also the trees, when those are in- 

 troduced in hedges. Osier plantations, and all such as like them require the soil to be 

 dug every year, or every two years, during their existence, should also be planted in 

 regular rows. 



3648. The distances at which the plants are placed must depend on different circum- 

 stances, but chiefly on the situation and soil. Planting thick, according to Nicol, is the 

 safer side to err on, because a number of plants will fail, and the superfluous ones can be 

 easily removed by thinning. " For bleak situations," he observes, " that from thirty to 

 forty inches is a good medium, varying the distance according to circumstances. For 

 less exposed situations, and where the soil is above six inches in depth, he recommends a 

 distance from four to five feet. For belts, clumps, and strips of a diameter of about one 

 hundred feet ; the margin to be planted about the distance of two feet, and the interior at 

 three feet. In sheltered situations of a deep good soil, he recommends a distance of six 

 feet, and no more. " (Pract. Plant.) 



3649. According to Sang, *' the distances at which hard-timber trees ought to be planted 

 are from six to ten feet, according to the quality of the soil, and the exposed or sheltered 

 situation. When the first four oaks are planted, supposing them at right angles, and at 

 nine feet apart, the interstices will fall to be filled up with five nurses, the whole standing 

 at four and a half feet asunder. When sixteen oaks are planted, there will necessarily 

 be thirty-three nurses planted ; and when thirty-six oaks are planted, eighty-five nurses; 

 but when a hundred principal trees are planted in this manner, in a square of ten on the 

 side, there will be two hundred and sixty-one nurse-plants required. The English acre 

 would require five hundred and thirty-six oaks, and one thousand six hundred and ten 

 nurses." {Plant. Kal. 163.) Pontey says, " in general cases, a distance of four feet is 

 certainly close enough ; as at that space the trees may all remain till they become sale- 

 able as rails, spars, &c." 



3650. The number of plants which may be planted on a statute acre = 160 rods, or poles, 

 = 4840 yards = 43.560 feet, is as follows : 



Feet apart. No. of Plants. 

 1 43,560 



U W,3f)0 



2 10,8,'X) 



2* 6,969 



3 4,840 



3A 3,556 



4 2,722 



44 2,232 



5 1,742 



3651. The size of the plants depends jointly on the site and the kind of tree; it is uni- 

 versally allowed that none of the resinous tribe succeed weU when removed at four or 

 more years' growth ; but if the soil is of tolerable quality, prepared by digging or sum- 



