486 Of Plantations. 



of deep bogs, owing to the moisture they retain. The anti- 

 septic quality, so universally to be met with in bogs, and 

 which is so hostile to vegetation, ought first to be destroyed, 

 by exposing the ground to the influence of the atmosphere, 

 and mixing with the soil, some lime, limestone gravel, and 

 other calcareous matters. Drainage, likewise, must not be 

 neglected ( 578 ). 



This description of soil, also, may be rendered highly 

 valuable, if planted with willows or osiers. A statute acre 

 will contain about 20,000 stock plants, eighteen inches 

 distant from each other, and if six shoots grow on a stock, 

 the amount is 120,000, which, at 10s. a thousand, the price 

 given for them by the Commissioners of the Victualling-office 

 at Deptford some years ago, would produce L.60 per statute 

 acre. It is stated in the Ayrshire Report, that when the 

 willow grows well, the shoots are ready for the market in 

 three years, and will frequently sell for L.24 per acre. In 

 eight years, the clear profit of an acre of the basket and 

 coopers' willows, after paying rent and other charges, has 

 amounted to L.38 ( 579 ). The profit from planting willows 

 on the islands in the river Thames is great, but the real 

 amount cannot be ascertained ( 58 ). 



5. Plantations on the Sea- Coast. The difficulty of raising 

 plantations on the sea-coast, is well known. The land on 

 which trees may be grown, might perhaps be more profit- 

 ably employed for other purposes ; but such is the advan- 

 tage of the shelter thus given to the neighbouring fields, that it 

 is of the greatest importance to remove the obstacles which 

 have hitherto prevented the growth of trees in such exposed 

 situations. Experience has shewn, that there are some 

 species of trees better calculated than others, to resist the 

 blasts of the ocean. 



The Pinaster, or sea pine, is considered as peculiarly 

 adapted for maritime situations ; and the valuable property 

 it possesses, of resisting the gales of the Atlantic, was fully 

 ascertained by the late Earl of Galloway, who planted some 

 of them almost on the sea beach, which have become large 

 and flourishing trees ( 5SI ). In Nova Scotia, the Weymouth 

 pine (Pinus strobus), has been observed to withstand the 

 rigour of the sea-blasts, better than any other tree. The 

 late Dr Anderson ascertained, that the Laburnum will stand 

 the sea-blasts, and shelter other trees ; but it must be pro- 

 tected from hares, which are fond of its bark ( 58z ). 



The Huntingdon willow, next to the pinaster, seems best 

 calculated to withstand the baleful influence of the westerly 



