FOR YOUNG TKEES. 31 



well fenced, the next important step to be taken, in 

 order to fit it for the reception of young trees, is 

 the draining it, which draining must be executed 

 in such a manner as to free the land from all super- 

 flous moisture, and to keep it in a free open healthy 

 state. I may here remark, that all drains made in 

 plantations among trees, whether these may be old 

 or young, ought to be left open. To cover drains, 

 where the roots of trees have access to them, is the 

 most effectual way of ultimately rendering them 

 useless. They might, indeed, answer the purpose 

 for a very few years ; but as soon as the roots of the 

 tree began to spread themselves firmly into the 

 soil, they would collect about the drains more than 

 any other part, and the consequence would be, that 

 in a very short time covered drains would be en- 

 tirely choked up with the roots, and rendered 

 useless. 



It is seldom found necessary to drain every part 

 of the ground that may be laid out for a new plan- 

 tation. There are, it is most reasonable to suppose, 

 many spots quite dry enough for the rearing of 

 healthy timber trees, in almost every district of 

 any considerable extent — which spots the experi- 

 enced eye can at once detect by the general ap- 

 pearance of the plants growing upon the surface ; 

 but for the guidance of those who may not have 

 had experience enough for this purpose, it may be 

 necessary here to lay down something like a rule, by 



