SECTION XT. 



459 



ordinary modes of planting in very large masses, and afterwards cut- 

 ting out the wood required, cannot be done without immense expense. 

 But the reason why the expense, when laid out, often escapes observa- 

 tion is, because it is laid out gradually^ during a long course of years, 

 and is therefore seldom paid by one generation. Perhaps the better 

 way would be to adopt the late Mr White's system, and plant the entire 

 surface. That would be a strong measure, where much revenue was to 

 be sacrificed, although I have little doubt that it would pay the second 

 generation, if Larch were made the staple of the wood. Yet two gene- 

 rations could perhaps not easily be found, who would consent either to 

 sink so large a capital as must inevitably be sunk, if the land were 

 valuable, or to live for thirty or forty years in the midst of a thicket. 



Note III. Page 273. 



I regret lately to learn, that this gentleman, in the severe summer of 

 last year, (1826,) had the misfortune to lose a good many of his trees, 

 from not being aware of the necessity of watering abundantly during the 

 first season, and securing the roots with shows or moss against the 

 drought. Although half a century might pass away in our variable 

 climate without the recurrence of a similar season, yet I think it of 

 some importance to state in this place what happened to my own trees 

 of that year, as it gives a strong view of the value of after- work, (which 

 has been fully treated in the foregoing section,) and shows that it is as 

 deserving of the planter's notice as any part of the treatment of wood. 



During the spring which preceded this truly tropical summer — that 

 is, in February and March 1826 — I transplanted about a hundred and 

 ten trees, partly in close woods and partly in the open park, from 

 twenty-five to thirty feet high. Within three weeks after being 

 planted, they were carefully watered and covered with shows, after the 

 manner directed in Section X. By the end of May we were forced to 

 commence our summer watering of the roots. That of the tops was 

 never attempted ; nor was it necessary, from the copious dews which 

 fell during the night, and were, of course, absorbed by the leaves. And 

 as there is great command of water about the place, the former was 

 continued, more or less, between three and four months ! Of the whole 

 number of trees planted / lost only one, although they consisted mostly 

 of Oaks and Beeches, the plants of all others the most sensitive of 

 drought ! Several bushes, however, or stools of Underwood died, and I 

 am persuaded that it was in consequence of over-watering — an error 

 which is more easily committed than planters will perhaps believe. 

 I am satisfied that, with workmen trained in the school of my 



