OF FOREST-TREES. 



93 



5. But, to discourage none, Oaks prosper exceedingly even in gravel, CHAP. 

 and moist clays, which most other trees abhor ; yea, even the coldest 

 clay grounds that will hardly graze : But these trees will frequently 

 make stands, as they encounter variety of footing, and sometimes 

 proceed again vigorously, as they either penetrate beyond, or outgrow 

 their obstructions, and meet better earth ; which is of that consequence. 



" transplanted small, grow equally well for a number of years : But it is probable that 

 " a tree with its tap-root undisturbed, may, in the end^ grow to a much larger size. 



" After the whole is finished to a convenient distance round the pruners, we then 

 " remove their shed to a second station, and there proceed in the like manner ; and 

 " so on till the whole be finished. 



" It would be well to get the planting done by the end of February, especially for trees 

 " of the deciduous kind ; but from the disappointments we meet with, occasioned by the 

 " weather, we are sometimes detained to a later season. 



" I have several times made trial of twelve or fourteen kinds of American Oaks sent 

 " over to his Grace in great quantities. I sowed them in the nursery, and also in the 

 " best and most sheltered part of the plantations. In both places they come up very 

 " plentifully ; but I now find that several of the sorts will not stand the severity of our 

 " winters, and those that do make so small a progress, as to promise no other encouragement 

 " than to be kept as curiosities. 



" Towards the end of April, when the ground is moist, it will be of great service 

 " to go over the whole plantations, and fasten all such trees as are become loose since 

 " their planting ; After this, nothing more will be required till the month of June, when 

 " we again go over the whole with hoes, cutting off only the tall-growing weeds ; for the 

 " sooner the ground gets covered with grass, in our light soil, so much the better. 



" I own there is something slovenly in the appearance of this method, and on some 

 " lands I would recommend keeping the ground clean hoed for some time at first, as also 

 " planting in rows, which in that case would be necessary. More than once I have 

 " tried this method on our forest-hills, and always found after every hoeing, that the soil 

 " was taken away by the succeeding winds into the valleys. 



" Besides this inconvenience, the reflection of our sandy soil is so very great, that 

 " we find the plants stand a dry season much better in our present method, than in the 

 " former : And whoever fancies that grass will choak or destroy seedling Oaks, will, 

 " after a few years trial, find himself agreeably mistaken : I have even recommended the 

 " sowing the poorer parts of the hills with furze or whin-seed, as soon as they are planted : 

 " We have sometimes permitted the furze to grow in the plantations by way of shelter 

 " for the game, which though it seems to choak and over-grow the Oaks for some time, 

 " vet after a few years we commonly find the best plants in the strongest beds of whins. 

 " This shows how acceptable shelter is to the Oak whilst young ; and experience shows 

 " us that the Oak would make but a slow progress on the forest-hills for a number 

 " of years at the first, were it not for some kind nurses ; and the Birch seems to answer 

 " that purpose the best, as I have already observed. 



