944 



PRACTICE OF GARDENING. 



Part III. 



6817. Whatever may be the nature of the soil, the sub-soil ought to be rendered dry if the plants are in- 

 tended to thrive. Large open drains may be used, where the ground is not to undergo much preparation ; 

 but where it is to be fallowed or trencheJ, under-drains become requisite. It is true, these will in time be 

 choaked up by the roots of the trees ; but by that period, as no more culture will be requisite, they may 

 be opened, and left open. Many situations, as steep sides of hills and rocky irregular surfaces, do not 

 admit of preparing the soil by comminution previously to planting ; but wherever that can be done, either 

 by trenching, digging, or a year's subjection to the plough, it will be found amply to repay the trouble. 

 This is more especially requisite for strips for shelter or hedge-rows, as the quick growth of the plants in 

 these cases- is a matter of the utmost consequence. The general mode of planting hedges by the side of 

 an open drain, renders preparation for them, in many cases, less necessary : but for strips, wherever it is 

 practicable, and there is at the same time no danger of the soil being washed away by rains or thaws, as 

 in some chalky hilly districts ; or blown about by the wind, as in some parts of Norfolk, and other sandy 

 tracts, preparation by a year's fallow, or by trenching two spits deep, cannot be admitted without real loss, 

 by retarding the attainment of the object desired. There are instances stated of promising oak-plant- 

 ations from oaks dibbled into soil altogether unimproved; and of plantations of Scotch pine, raised by 

 merely sowing the seeds on a heath or common, and excluding cattle (Gen. Rep. of Scot. ii. 269.) ; but 

 these are rare cases, and the time required, and the instances of failure, are not mentioned. The practise 

 is obviously too rude to be recommended as one of art The best situations for planting, without any 

 other culture but inserting the seeds or plants, are surfaces partially covered with low woody growths, as 

 broom, furze, &c. " The ground which is covered, or rather half covered, with juniper and heath," says 

 BufTon, " is already a wood half made." 



6818. Osier-plantations are an exception to these remarks, as to the value of the situation and soil ; they 

 require a deep, strong, moist soil, but one not springy, or continually saturated with water ; and it will 

 be in vain to plant them without trenching it two or more feet deep. 



6819. The form of plantation for profit or shelter must be determined jointly by the 

 situation and the objects in view. In rocky abrupt sites (Jig. 632. ), the plantation will 

 consist of a number of masses (a, b, c), of forms determined by the rocks and precipices, 

 among which some of the most valuable pasture may be left as glades (d, e), for use, 

 effect, and for the sake of game. Strips and hedges for sheltering or separating arable 

 lands, should be formed as much as possible in straight and parallel lines, in order not 

 to increase the expense of tillage by short and irregular turnings. Straight parallel 

 strips, on irregular surfaces, have a more varied appearance at a distance, than strips ever 

 so much varied on a flat surface ; for, in the former case, the outline against the sky is 

 varied as much as that on the earth. In extensive hilly pastures, in which it is often 



desirable to produce shelter, and at the same time to plant only the most rocky and un- 

 productive spots, the forms may be of the most irregular description : and by planting 

 chiefly on the eminences and slopes (Jig. 633.), shelter will be most effectually produced, 

 the pasture improved the least valuable ground rendered productive in copse or timber 

 and the greatest richness and picturesque beauty fiqq 



conferred on the landscape. There are some fine , mm , ^-ja* 



examples of this on the hilly districts of Fifeshire ; '"'' ^^^**JGS 



there, on many estates where nothing was sought p||&V^&^*^^&~ 

 for but profit and shelter, the greatest beauty has 

 been produced; and the picturesque tourist now 

 passes through glades and valleys, pastured by well- 

 fed cattle and sheep, enlivened by rocks, thickets, 

 hanging woods, and occasional rills and lakes. 

 Fifty years ago, scarcely a tree was to be seen, and 

 only the most inferior descriptions of live stock. 



6820. The enclosing of plantations is too essential 

 a part of their formation to require enlarging on. 

 In all those of small extent, as hedges and strips, 

 it is the principal part of the expense ; but to plant 

 in these forms, or any other, without enclosing, 

 would be merely a waste of labor and property. 

 The sole object of fencing being to exclude the 

 domestic quadrupeds, it is obvious, that whatever, 

 in the given situation, is calculated to effect this at 

 the least expense, the first cost and future repairs 

 or management being taken into consideration 

 must be the best. Where stones abound on the' 



