Of Plantations. 491 



ing to the size and figure of the field planted, the kind of 

 fence with which it is inclosed, the extent of draining which 

 it may require, and the number, sort, and age of the trees 

 of which they are composed. In Galloway the expense of 

 planting by contract is L.5 per acre ( 599 ) But on the whole, 

 the following estimate is not too high, where thorough jus- 

 tice is done to the plantation, and where the trees are of a 

 valuable description. 



Draining, L.O 15 



Price of plants, 3 10 



Putting in, 018 



L.5 3 



The expense of inclosing varies from 10s. to L.5 per 

 acre, according to the size and shape of the inclosure, and 

 the materials of which it is made. 



Though plantations may be done, therefore, cheaper by 

 contract, yet being executed in a careless and imperfect man- 

 ner, and frequently unthriving seedlings used, they generally 

 fail ; nor can any dependence be placed on the success of 

 a plantation, unless all the necessary steps are taken with 

 skill and attention. Draining, in particular, to which a con- 

 tractor in general pays little attention, is essential. There 

 are few species of trees that will thrive in a wet soil ; and a 

 large proportion of those cultivated in plantations, are in- 

 jured or destroyed by superabundant moisture. Drains 

 ought therefore to be made with peculiar care, and it is 

 highly injurious to neglect them afterwards, and to allow 

 them to fill up. If a plantation is worth the forming and 

 fencing, it is surely worth the extra expense of making, and 

 of keeping up drains, on which its future success principally 

 depends. 



5. Plantations are often made in ground encumbered with 

 stones or rock, where no preparation can be made, but pit- 

 ting the ground for the plants; it is of use to dig the pits 

 five or six months before the seedlings are inserted, the 

 mould and even the turf being thus better calculated to nou- 

 rish them. Where it is practicable, it is an expensive, but 

 useful preparation, to trench or plough the ground before 

 the trees are planted ; and by some, cultivating roots, for 

 two or three years afterwards, is recommended. The quan- 

 tity of plants varies from 2000 to 4000 per statute acre, ac- 

 cording to the bleakness of the situation, and the richness 

 of the ground. A new mode of planting furze-fields has 



