SECTION III. 



Note I. Page 57. 



Marshall has a specious way of adjusting the dififerences between 

 these conflicting systems ; although he seems to give it in the end in 

 favour of the former, (that is, of the system of raising trees from the 

 seed,) in situations where the nature of the ground will admit. " The 

 dispute about sowing and planting (as he observes) may in some mea- 

 sure be reconciled in the following manner. Where the strength of the 

 land lies in the substratum, while the surface soil is of an ungenial 

 nature, sow^ in order that the roots may strike deep, and thereby reap 

 the full advantage of the treasures below. (Qu. Where did Marshall 

 meet with land of this description ?) But, on the contrary, where the top 

 soil is good, and the bottom of an opposite quality, (a veiy common 

 case,) plant, and thereby give the roots the full enjoyment of the pro- 

 ductive part of the soil. Or, under these last circumstances, sow ; and 

 tap the young plants as they stand with a tapping instrument, and 

 thereby check their downward tendency, as well as strengthen their 

 horizontal roots. 



" By this method of treating seedling plants, the peculiar advantage of 

 planting is obtained. The dispute, therefore, seems to rest entirely upon 

 this question ; which of the two methods is least expensive ? To come 

 at this, there are two things to be considered ; the actual expense of 

 labour, and other contingent matters, and the loss of time in the land 

 occupied. With respect to tlie former, sowing is beyond comparison the 

 cheapest method ; but in regard to the latter, planting may seem to 

 gain a preference ; for the seed-bed is small compared with the ground 

 to be planted — and while that is rearing the seedling plants, this conti- 

 nues to be applied to the purposes of husbandry. However, if we con- 

 sider the check which plants in general receive in transplantation, and 

 if the interspaces of an infant wood may for several years after sowing 

 be still cultivated to advantage, the preference, we conceive, is evidently 

 and beyond all dispute on the side of sowing." — Rural Ornament, vol. i. 

 pp. 121-123. 



