PLANTING BY THE SEA-SIDE. 
175 
respect more interesting and important. It is 
almost unnecessary to wait to enforce this posi- 
tion. The sea — one of the grandest features 
in creation — is viewed with awe and delight by 
all ; but, in almost every instance, what a 
picture of sterility is spread out along its 
shores ! Even our most fashionable watering- 
places, with reference to their natural scenery, 
may with truth be represented as " dull and 
treeless." I shall therefore conclude, that to 
invest such scenes with rich sylvan furniture, 
is a point worthy of the closest attention. 
Where has such a thing been done ? will no 
doubt be the first question. To this I reply, 
that the examples are to be seen on the cliffs 
of the German Ocean, in the parishes of 
Runton and Trimmingham, in the county of 
Norfolk, the property of Sir Edward North 
Buxton, Bart. There are in all about twenty 
plantations in these parishes, extending over a 
space of about 120 acres, but I select one in 
particular, which will afford a striking illus- 
tration of successful maritime planting ; it is 
called the " Boreas Plantation." The plants 
stand on a bold cliff, 250 feet above the level 
of the sea, towards the north-west, and part 
of them only twelve yards from the beach. 
Standing on this plantation, the beholder looks 
down upon a wide expanse of the ocean, which 
is here literally whitened by the sails of the 
Scotch and Baltic traders. Its commanding 
prospect has recommended it to the officers of 
the Preventive Service, for here their watch- 
house is erected. This, then, is the locality. 
Horn it has been planted is the more im- 
portant question ; and here I shall take care 
to state the details minutely. The first thing 
to be done, is to have the soil trenched with 
the spade, to the depth of 20 or 24 inches. 
This will cost 61. per acre. Cheap processes 
of planting in such situations will prove of no 
use ; they have been tried repeatedly with no 
success ; and I have little hesitation in stating 
that it cannot be done effectually without the 
preparation alluded to. When trenching is 
put out to be done, at so much per perch, I 
have known unprincipled men leave about a 
third of the ground undisturbed. It should 
therefore be done either by the day, or with 
the understanding that if any part of the soil 
should be found unbroken, the price of the 
whole would be withheld. 
2. The time for planting is of the greatest 
moment. All planting by the sea-side should 
be done during the month of March, or in the. 
first fortnight in April. The plants will thus 
In- lice from the cutting winter's winds, until 
they have established themselves in their new 
situations. Some will no doubt go and try a 
half measure, by planting at the proper season 
on untrenched soil : let them do so — success 
cannot be theirs. It should be continually 
borne in mind that planting, under the present 
circumstances, is not at all encouraged by 
Nature ; it is a union of the wild and tame 
which, though permitting, she does not foster; 
and Art, therefore, has to use her utmost 
exertions to compensate for the want of that 
encouragement. 
3. So difficult is the work of maritime 
planting, that, in addition to the land being 
well prepared, and the best season chosen, 
there must be shelter created ; and this should 
be done in two ways — as an outside work, by 
erecting a strong high fence of furze bundles, 
or brushwood, around the plantation, and by 
planting the young trees very close to each 
other, leaving only about a space of eighteen 
inches between them. At this rate, 19,000 
plants will be required for every acre of 
land. 
4. Cleaning the land for two years is all- 
important. The best plan is to take a crop of 
carrots or parsnips from the land the first 
year ; and this will pay all the expenses of 
hoeing, &e., and do no injury to the trees. 
The next point is to select the kinds of trees 
best suited for such a situation ; for, if this 
should be neglected, the other instructions, as 
a matter of course, would be rendered useless. 
The first deciduous tree adapted to the 
situation under consideration, is the Norfolk 
Black Sallow, a variety of the Salix caprea, 
thought by some to be peculiar to Norfolk : 
it is a most determined grower, even close to 
the water, and a tree which attains to a large 
size. In the parish of Runton, in the neigh- 
bourhood of the sea, is a specimen which, at 
four feet from the ground, is nine and a half 
feet in circumference. It was the appearance 
of this tree, in such a situation, which led to 
slips of it being tried in the plantations above 
referred to. The quality of the wood of the 
Sallow is by no means first-rate ; and it is 
rather recommended as a nurse to others here 
mentioned, than as fit to occupy the ground 
permanently. However, in some maritime 
situations, any sort of tree would be gladly 
accepted, and, as it is not devoid of beauty, it 
should be planted where those of a better 
texture do not thrive. It will give some idea 
of the vigour witli which this tree proceeds, 
when I state that, after the second year, it 
throws up shoots an inch and a half in 
diameter at the bottom ; and, if trained to a 
single stem, it will become a tree twenty feet 
high, in four years. Slips or cuttings are 
quite equal to rooted plants, and there is a 
great saving in carriage in ordering the tree 
in the former shape. 
The next bust deciduous tree is the Black 
Italian Poplar, which maybe readily obtained 
of any nurseryman. It is late in leafing, and 
to this circumstance, I think, is to be attri- 
