156 FOREST PLANTATIONS. [Jan. 



wet ftate, evidently to the great detriment of the 

 plants. 



It is therefore improper to plant on a retentive 

 foil in the time of rain, or even perhaps for fome 

 days afterwards ; nor after a fall of fnow, until 

 it has for fome days difappeared. Whereas, on a 

 dry abforbent foil, it may be proper to plant in 

 the time of gentle mowers, immediately after 

 heavy rains, or as foon as the fnow is diffolved. 



If the ground has been prepared by pitting, the 

 diftances at which to plant will of courfe be de- 

 fined. If not, it may be proper to remark here, 

 that in very expofed fituations, with a thin foil, 

 the plants may be put in at three, to three and a 

 half feet apart \ and in better fituations, from four 

 to five feet diftance, according to circumftances 

 of foil, fhelter, and the like. 



With refpecl to the fize of the plants, that mud, 

 in fome meafure, depend on their kinds ; but it 

 may be faid, generally, that, for the purpofe under 

 prefent view, the plants being tranfplanted, (not 

 feedlings), they fhould be from a foot to eighteen, 

 inches in height, fliff in the Hem, and well rooted. 

 Plants for this purpofe fhould feldom be more 

 than three years from the feed ; indeed never, 

 if they have been raifed in good foil. Many of 

 them may be fufficiently large at two years from 

 the feed ; and if fo, are to be preferred to thofe 

 of a greater age, as they will confequently be more 

 vigorous and healthy. 



The 



