Of Plantations. 489 



decided advantages over both. It grows to a much larger 

 size than the acacia, and is much sounder than the full grown 

 sweet chestnut. Its bark is also a valuable consideration. 



Deep clay, or loamy soils therefore, where they are of too 

 cold a quality to be well adapted for arable culture, cannot 

 be better occupied than in the production of oak. 



The ash seems to be entitled, in point of importance and 

 of use, to rank next to the oak ( 59 ). In size, as well as in 

 beauty, a full-grown ash is one of our finest trees. Its fo- 

 liage, though late in appearing, (which is favourable to its 

 success near the sea), and early in. falling off, is peculiarly 

 elegant ( 591 ). Unfortunately the ash, if planted in hedge- 

 rows, is injurious to land when under cultivation ; and is 

 likewise unfavourable to the dairy, as its leaves, if they get 

 mixed with the pastures of cows in autumn, communicate 

 an incurable bad taste to their milk, and the butter made 

 from it. Hence the propriety of raising the ash in woods, 

 instead of hedge-rows ( 59a ). 



The elm is a valuable tree. It makes good shelter ; its 

 shades do little harm to hedges, and neither its leaves nor 

 its roots do any injury to grass, or to arable lands ( S93 ). Its 

 timber answers various useful purposes, and by many it is 

 considered equally profitable as the oak ; for though the 

 same quantities of timber from the oak and elm, are in value 

 only at the rate of from two to three, yet the growth of the 

 latter usually, is to the former, as three is to two ; conse- 

 quently they are, in point of value, on the same footing ( 594 ). 



There are also some other trees, which, though of a sub- 

 ordinate character, may be turned to a good account ; as the 

 Salix ccerulea, or the French willow ; the Populus inanilifere^ 

 or the Canada poplar ; also, the wild cherry, Prunus cerasus, 

 which ought to be extensively cultivated, as its timber, when 

 of forty or fifty years' growth, is valuable for all building 

 purposes ( S9S ) ; and the American live oak, or Quercus vivens, 

 so celebrated by the Americans, for its durability as ship 

 timber, and for every purpose where it is likely to be exposed 

 to the variation of the weather. 



3. There are various modes in which trees may be plant- 

 ed, each of which has its advantages. 1. Where the cli- 

 mate is bleak, and shelter is required, they ought to be 

 planted in large masses ; for though the outskirts may be 

 stunted in their growth by wind-waving, yet the plantation 

 will secure the growth of the interior, and principal part of 

 it. 2. Belts of planting are likewise of great use. They 

 oppose and break the current of winds, forming eddies, 



