( H ) 
So far the judicious Laborie. —For my part, I 
must confess, I regret a thick layer of half rotten 
leaves, small branches, and other ingredients, con¬ 
genial to vegetation, should fall a prey to the ra¬ 
vages of that devouring element, Fire.—Yet after 
all, the devoting them to this fate is, perhaps, un¬ 
avoidable. 
OF LINING, &c. 
The distance of the rows is a most essential 
object of consideration ; and in which the Planter 
must be guided chiefly by the quality of the Soil. 
Some Planters line at the distance of ten feet each 
way : others ten feet by nine.—My practice has 
been generally nine feet square, which I have found, 
upon experience, in good soil, neither too wide nor 
too near. Some Planters plant much nearer :* 
But experience has in many instances proved this 
a bad practice ; as, if your soil is good, the trees 
grow so luxuriant that they touch and crowd 
each other, and exclude air, which prevents their 
bearing.—I would therefore rather err on the other 
side, although I should be charged with a waste of 
Surface : Nor would I, in any land, except exhaust¬ 
ed soil, where you may expect your trees will be¬ 
come stunted, (and such is scarce worth planting 
at all), plant nearer than eight feet. 
The 
* Mr. Laborie talks of planting at the distance of three feet 
square; and then gives a Latitude extending to ten by nine, 
and twelve by eleven—which, if just, the soil must vary much in 
St. Domingo.-—/ 7 *^ his Book, page 113 . 
