OF FOREST-TREES. 91 



large trees with extraordinary success : And therefore it were not amiss CHAP. III. 

 to bore and search the ground where you intend to plant or sow, before ^"^"V^^ 

 you fall to work, since earth too shallow or rocky is not so proper 

 for this timber ; the roots fix not kindly, and though for a time they may 

 seem to flourish, yet they will dwindle. In the mean time, it is wonder- 

 ful to consider how strangely the Oak will penetrate to come to a marly 



" four, five, and sometimes more of the large hill-points meet in the same valley, and tend, 

 "as it were, to the same centre. 



" After those patches are planted, or marked out for that purpose, we then proceed 

 "to the planting in general. We always begin with planting the largest young trees 

 " of every sort, and end our work with those of the smallest size ; were we to proceed 

 " otherwise, the making a. hole for a larger-sized tree, after the small ones are thick 

 "planted, would cause the greatest confusion. 



" Birch is generally the sort of tree we make our beginning with, which we find will bear 

 " to be removed with great safety, at the height of six or seven feet, though we commonly 

 "plant rather under than at that size. This sort of tree we are always supplied with 

 " from our plantations of five or six years growth. But before I proceed to the taking 

 " them up, it will be proper to inform you, that in the planting season, we divide our hands 

 " into four classes, which we term Takers- up, Pruners, Carriers, and Planters: And here 

 " I shall describe the several methods of dohig this work. 



" First, in taking up we have the same care to take up with good roots in the plantations, 

 " as was recommended in the nursery, though we cannot pursue the same method ; but 

 " in both places, so soon as the plants are taken up, we bed them in the ground in the 

 " following manner : Dig a trench at least fifteen inches deep, and set the young trees 

 " therein with their tops aslant, covering their roots well as we go along, and almost half 

 " way up the stem of the plants, with the earth that comes out of a second trench, which 

 " we fill in the like manner, and so proceed on till we have a load, more or less, in a heap, 

 " as may be convenient to the place from whence they were taken. In our light soil this 

 " trouble is but little, and we always have our plants secure, both from their roots drying, 

 " and their suffering by frost. We have a low-wheeled waggon to carry them from the 

 " heaps, where they are bedded, to the pruners, and generally take two loads every other 

 "day. When they arrive, the planters, pruners, &c. all assist to bed them there, in the 

 " same manner as before described. We have a portable shed for the pruners to work 

 " under, which is also convenient for the rest of the work-people to take shelter under 

 " in stormy weather. From the above heaps the plants are taken only so fast as they are 

 " wanted for pruning, which work we thus perform : Cut off all the branches close to the 

 " stem to about half the height of the plant, shortening the rest of the top to a conical 

 " form in proportion to the size of the plant ; and in pruning of the roots, we only cut off 

 "the extreme parts that have been bruised by the taking up, or such as have been 

 " damaged by accident, wishing at all times to plant with as much root as can be had. 



" As soon as they are pruned they are taken to the planters, by the carriers, who are 

 "generally a set of boys, with some of the worst of the labourers. The planters 



T 2 



