46 



ON THE MANAGEMENT 



materials, therefore, from roads, are generally pre- 

 ferable, which are produced from an inclosed track 

 in a low situation : pavements, however, and hard 

 roads, produce the best culture of all. This com- 

 post is much better when collected in a moderate 

 dry state, than when it is either very wet or dusty. 

 If scraped off the road in a wet and soft state, 

 when it is become dry it will be hard and cloddy, 

 and will require time to bring it to a proper con- 

 dition. When thus circumstanced, the best way 

 of recovering it is, to give it frequent turnings in 

 hard frosty weather. 



The dust and scrapings of roads are not only 

 proper for Vines, but also agree with plants in 

 general h , and being mixed in an equal proportion 



h In some kinds of moory or fenny soils, it formerly was 

 found difficult to get sets of either the Willow or White Thorn 

 to strike root, though it was observed, that the few plants of 

 both, that chanced to take, generally grew remarkably luxu- 

 riant afterwards, and were very durable. 



It is probable, that such soils greatly abound either with 

 a sulphurous or an unctuous quality, so as to overpower the 

 plants when newly set. 



The scrapings of roads, and the dirt of streets, are found to 

 be effectual in remedying this complaint. 



In some parts of the Isle of Ely, and the adjacent low and 

 moist country, it is now become a general practice to carry the 

 road-earth many miles for this purpose. At the time of plant- 

 ing, a few handfuls of this substance is put round each set, and 

 a quantity just sufficient to keep the natural soil from touching 

 the bark of the plant, is found to be quite adequate to the 

 purpose. By this mode of practice, numbers of willow trees 

 are raised with the greatest certainty, and fine white thorn 

 hedge-rows now form and furnish the boundaries of those in- 



