BILLINGTON ON PLANTING. 



187 



want of acquaintance with the cutting out of naval 

 crooks. He remarks that " larches are more Hable 

 to die in wet ground by their roots being soaked in 

 water during winter, than oak and some other kinds 

 but ground that is at all pervious to water, ought 

 not to be planted till it be drained in such a manner 

 that water will soon disappear from shallow holes ; 

 and where, from the plastic closeness of the clay, 

 draining is not quite effectual, the planting should 

 take place as late in the spring as the breaking of 

 the buds will permit ; and principally by slitting, 

 which, by not breaking the natural coherence or tur- 

 finess of the soil, affords less opening for water to 

 stagnate around the roots, and does not occasion the 

 soil to sink down into the mortary consistence con- 

 sequent to pitting; there is also less destruction of 

 the vegetables growing in the soil, hence less putres- 

 cent matter to taint the water that may stagnate 

 round the roots ; pure water, or water in motion, not 

 being detrimental to the roots for a considerable 

 time : also, when the plants are put in late in spring, 

 there is seldom long stagnation of water that season, 

 and by next winter the ground has become so firmed 

 around the roots as to allow very little space for wa- 

 ter, and has also acquired a certain granular arrange- 

 ment akin to polarization or crystallization, which 



