200 HOW TO FIND THE VALUE OF 



stance, the ground would be well prepared by the 

 roots of the hard-wood for the reception of the 

 larches ; which must, in a great measure, be the 

 reason that most of our original specimens are the 

 finest trees of the kind at present in the country, 

 — they having always been planted in favourable 

 localities, and near the residence of the proprietors. 

 From what I have said above, it will appear 

 evident, that the disease in the larch is attri- 

 butable to the want of proper drainage of the soil. 

 Since I came to Arniston, to act as forester, I 

 have recovered a considerable extent of young 

 larch plantations, which were fast going back, and 

 that simply by draining the soil, in order to 

 draw away from (it superfluous water, as well 

 as to cleanse it from bad qualities which were 

 natural to the soil, and formerly prevented the 

 healthy development of the larch tree. These 

 young larch plantations were under fifteen years 

 of age when I drained them ; but I cannot say if 

 draining would recover plantations of an older 

 standing. In all cases where it is desirable to cul- 

 tivate sound larch timber, the land should be drained 

 with open cuts at eighteen feet distance, and not 

 shallower at first than eighteen inches deep ; and 

 as the plantation advances in age, the drains should 

 be gradually deepened, and kept properly clean, 

 and stagnant water never allowed to remain in 

 them : for however well land may be drained at 



