MR WITHERS. 



217 



soils rather hurtful, eveu during the first years ; but 

 with larger plants, such as are often used in Eng- 

 land, it invariably occasioned their roots to strike 

 quickly, by affording a regular supply of moisture, 

 and from being easily permeated by the rootlets, 

 expedited the growth, yielding much early luxuri- 

 ance when followed by skilful cultm'e, but latterly, 

 seldom to such a degree as would lead us to suppose 

 much difference would be discernible at 30 years of 

 age, between the trenched and those planted by 

 mere pitting, slitting, or sowing, — much more de- 

 pending on proper draining, on young, thriving, 

 small stiudy plants, of best variety, — on suiting the 

 plant to the soil and climate, and on timely thin- 

 ning. 



But even were a very superior ultimate progress 

 of growth obtained by trenching, manming, and 

 culture of timber, yet as capital and manure will 

 probably be more advantageously employed in com- 

 mon agriculture, which gives a comparatively quick 

 retiun of both, w^e shall leave to Mr Withers and 

 his coterie of illuminati the whole advantage of his 

 discovery. Economic philosophy is the queen of 

 om* Scottish plants ; she will not admit any new 

 system of nurtiu-e for her subjects without the strict- 



