OF FOREST-TREES. 291 



is not so strong as Oak ; but yet proper enough for vessels of great burden, CH. XXII. 

 which stand much out of the water : This sort comes into Holland from '-''v^ 

 Norway, and other eastland countries; it is somewhat heavier than 

 Fir, and stronger ; nor do either of them bend sufficiently. As to the 

 seeds, they may be sown in beds, or cases, at any time during March ; and 

 when they peep, carefully defended with Furzes, or the hke fence, from 



" laid the heath or furze, which was cut, upon the surface of the ground about their roots, 

 « to prevent the ground from drying— and few of the plants have failed. These plants 

 " were most of them four years old from seed, nor was there any care taken to clean the 

 " ground afterward, but the whole left to shift for themselves ; and in five or six years the 

 " Pines grew so well as to overpower the heath and furze, and destroy it. 



" The distance which I generally allow these plants, in all large, open situations, is 

 " about four feet, but always irregular, avoiding planting in rows as much as possible ; 

 *' and in the planting great care should be used not to take the plants faster than they 



can be put down, so that some men should be employed in digging up the plants while 

 " others are planting. Those who take up the plants must be looked after, to see they do 

 " not tear off the roots, or wound the bark ; and as fast as they are taken up, their roots 

 " should be covered to prevent their drying, and put into their new quarters as soon as 

 " possible. In planting them, care should be had to make the holes large enough for their 

 " roots, as also to loosen and break the clods of earth, and put the finest immediately 

 " about their roots, then to settle the earth gently with the foot to the roots of the plant. 

 " If these things are duly observed, and a proper season be chosen for planting, there 

 " will be very little hazard of success ; but I have seen some plantations made with plants 

 " which were brought from a great distance, and had been so closely packed up as to cause 

 " a heat, whereby most of the plants within had their leaves changed yellow, and few of 

 " them have grown, which has discouraged others from planting, not knowing the true 

 " cause of the failure. 



" After the plantations are made, the only care they require for five or six years, will be 

 " to secure the plants from cattle, hares, and rabbits ; if these are admitted to them, they 

 " will make great destruction in a short time ; for if the branches are gnawed by hares or 

 " rabbits, it will greatly retard the growth of the plants, if not destroy them entirely. 



" In about five or six years after planting, the branches of the young trees will have 

 " met, and begin to interfere with each other ; therefore they will require a little pruning ; 

 " but this must be done with great caution. The lower tier of branches only should be 

 " cut off ; this should be performed in September, at which time there will be no danger 

 " of the wounds bleeding too much, and the turpentine will harden over the wounds, as 

 " the season grows cold, so will prevent the wet from penetrating the wounds. These 

 " branches should be cut off close to the stem of the plants, and care should be taken 

 " in doing this, not to break any of the remaining branches of the young trees. This work 

 "should be repeated every other year, at each time taking off only the lower tier of 

 " brandies j for if the plants are much trimmed, it will greatly retard their growth, as it 



X X 2 



