Of Plantations. 485 



and has lately been used as piles and planks for the founda- 

 tion of Waterloo-bridge. It is remarked, that hardly any 

 species of herbage will grow under beech. 



In regard to plantations on elevated lands, it is to be re- 

 marked, that it is of great importance to plant them younger 

 than is usually the case. 



2. Plantations on Steep Banks. The sides of hills, and 

 banks of rivers, so difficult to cultivate, cannot be more ad- 

 vantageously occupied, than by trees. On the sides of hills, 

 the ash and the sycamore, which have large resinous buds, 

 and make large unpliable shoots, not liable to hurt or molest 

 each other in the spring of the year, while they are tender, 

 are the most likely to prosper; and more especially, if the 

 situation be exposed to the south-west wind. In many 

 parts of Gloucestershire and North Wiltshire, the profit 

 made by planting ash with willow for underwood, on the 

 cold and boggy soil of the sides of hills, is almost beyond 

 credibility ( 57<s ). 



3. Low and Moorish Tracts. The birch, the alder, and 

 the willow, are well calculated for such soils : but there is 

 reason to believe, that the pitch-pine of America would 

 surpass every other tree in such situations. The largest 

 trees of that species in Scotland were all planted, by acci- 

 dent, in wet ground, or swampy spots, abounding with 

 springs. No tree is more profitable. It is by nature much 

 smoother in its texture, and freer of knots, than the Scotch 

 fir. The quantity of turpentine in the wood, prevents its 

 being injured by wet, and renders it well calculated for 

 decks of ships, dressers, weavers' looms, and other imple- 

 ments. It also resists the dry rot in joists and rafters. As 

 it never splinters, it might be of great use in naval architec- 

 ture. 



The ash is also raised to advantage in damp situations, 

 and will grow healthy and luxuriant on almost any soil, even 

 upon low, moory, swampy spots, upon a level with the 

 water ; nay, it will vie on osier-beds with the aquatics ( 577 ). 

 That the ash will thus thrive in such situations, is a circum- 

 stance of considerable importance, and not so generally 

 known as it ought to be. 



4. Swampy Grounds, or Bogs. Trees that spread their 

 roots on the surface, as Scotch fir and larch, also birch and 

 poplars, and, according to recent experiments, the ash, are 

 to be preferred on such grounds. Oaks, and other trees 

 with a tap-root, which strike deep into the ground, will not 

 answer, for the roots of no tree can live in the lower parts 



