May.'] FOREST PLANTATIONS. 38 



PREPARING THE GROUND FOR FUTURE 

 PLANTATIONS. 



It has frequently been noticed, that this is the 

 beft feafon of the year for preparation of the land 

 for future plantations ; by Pitting, Fallowing, and 

 Paring and Burning. This fubject will there- 

 fore divide itfelf into many particulars under thefe 

 heads. 



It muft be obvious to every one who has been 

 engaged in cultivating foreft timber, that trees 

 grow, for feveral years after planting, with far 

 greater rapidity, in land which has been prepared 

 by fallow, than in equal foils after pitting ; and 

 far better after pitting, than by being merely flit- 

 ted in. Neverthelefs, we would by no means 

 wifh to be underftood as recommending generally 

 the preparation of ground for foreft plantations 

 by fallow. Indeed, the expenfe would be extra- 

 vagant ; and, were it otherwife, the work is im- 

 practicable. Generally fpeaking, fallow for fo- 

 reft plantation is not to be looked for. Pitting 

 may be confidered as the moft perfect method of 

 preparation that extenfive tracts of ground for 

 foreft plantation can receive ; and that, too, on- 

 ly where hard-wood trees, as principals, are ei- 

 ther to be planted or fown, it having been already 

 mentioned that the nurfes may be slitted in with 



propriety. 





