292 SUCCESSION CROPS OF WOOD. 



The most obvious way of doing away with the 

 above-mentioned evil, would be to pull up all the 

 old roots before replanting the ground. This plan 

 is, however, attended with very considerable expense, 

 and is on that account objectionable. Another way 

 in which the inconvenience may be avoided, is not 

 to plant till the old roots be decayed ; but as a 

 period of ten, or perhaps fifteen years, will intervene 

 after the old trees are cut down before that happen, 

 this plan cannot be much recommended. A third 

 method, which may be adopted, is to plant in pits 

 of at least double the size that would be necessary 

 in common ground, taking care to cut so deep as 

 that none of the old roots be left entire at the bot- 

 tom. Were this plan followed, trees would grow as 

 readily among the undecayed roots of an old planta- 

 tion, as in any situation whatever. Failures in 

 land of this description, generally arise either from 

 making the pits too small, or from planting on the 

 slitting or notching system, which is entirely inade- 

 quate when the ground is interwoven with roots, 

 through which, as through a sieve, every drop of 

 moisture escapes. But by making large pits, all 

 the roots which would otherwise be in close contact 

 with those of the plants are removed to a proper 

 distance, and along with them, that hollowness of 



