The limbs extend from 40 to 46 feet from the bole.

The lowest estimate of timber in these nine trees is 3,200 cubic feet of the very best quality for naval architecture. It is remarkable, that though they must be of a great age, no symptoms of decay appear in the growth of these trees; they are perfectly sound and free from blemish*.

6th.-Damp clayey soil incumbent on clay. Coarse siliceous gravel

Fine sand

Vegetable matter, destructible by fire.

Carbonate of lime

Silica, or earth of flints

Alumina, or pure clay

Oxide of iron

Soluble saline matter, with vegetable extract, and gypsum

60 120

9

15

130

48

10

8

400

The oak, elm, ash, and hornbeam attain to greater perfection here than any other kind of forest-tree. The tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) grows freely on this soil when it is properly prepared by trenching. The Norway spruce, pinaster, and Weymouth pine appear to be the only species of the resinous tribe of trees that make tolerable growth on a soil of the nature above described.

*Lord Cowper's Pensanger Park oak, near Hertford, grows in a clay and sand soil or sandy loam.

Cubic measure. 629 feet.

Other limbs measured

67

696

290

986

This tree was again measured in 1826, and had increased to 1100 feet cubic measure. The first length of the tree, up to the first branch, is 17 feet, and 19 feet 6 inches in circumference, measuring in cubic contents about 400 feet.

7th. Fertile peat moss, incumbent on clay or marl.

This' variety of peat soil when prepared for planting by draining off the superfluous moisture, with which it is found almost always saturated, is capable of growing very profitable trees, as the birch, abele, poplar, willow, and even the Scotch fir. A piece of ground of this nature, prepared by cutting open drains at such distances from each other, as to leave a sufficient breadth or body of earth to retain a due proportion of moisture in dry weather, and yet prevent saturation of moisture in the wettest weather, was planted with a variety of trees. The trees above mentioned succeeded remarkably well, and made an improved return of a hundred per cent. in comparison to that afforded by the natural produce of the surface. The following variety of peat, which is not uncommon, is to be carefully distinguished from the above:

Soluble vegetable extractive matter, sulphate of iron, and

sulphate of potash

Sulphate of lime

Loss and moisture

29

289

14

30

11

12

15

400

The outward characters or appearance of this soil is so similar to those of the first-mentioned variety of peat, that they are scarcely to be distinguished by common observation. The above soil, in its natural state, is absolutely sterile. Large applications of caustic lime and of common salt, in a smaller proportion, had the effect of improving the nature of this soil so much, as to render it capable of vegetating turnip seed, and of bringing the roots to the size of small turnips. It has not been proved, however, what the results of planting forest-trees might be on this soil, improved in the manner now stated.

9th.-Chalky soil, incumbent on chalk-rock.

*The inert or sterile property of this peat appears to arise chiefly from the excess of sulphate of iron and sulphate of potash and lime which it contains. When burnt, the ashes are found to be a valuable manure for chalky soils.

The beech, ash, and oak thrive better on a soil of the above composition, than any of the resinous or fir species of trees.

10th.-Rich alluvial or marsh soil, on the estate of Lord Saye and Sele at Belvidere, near Erith, in Kent, situated partly below and partly above the level of the river Thames.

Sulphate of lime or gypsum

Grains

98

68

15

40

115

32

12

3

Soluble vegetable extract and saline matters, giving indication
of not more, or rather less, than the usual quantity found in
soils generally of the muriate of soda or common salt
Moisture and loss

6

11

one.

400

This soil had the character in the neighbourhood of being incapable of growing any kind of tree : it was supposed to contain an excess of common salt. The Hon. Twisleton Fiennes has put this interesting question to the test of trial. We examined this soil chemically as above, and found that common salt entered but little into its composition. The stagnant moisture with which it was surcharged appeared to be the chief, if not the only defect of the soil. The subsoil in part is peaty and incumbent on a clayey marl. A large open drain was made so as to command the water in the space set apart to be planted. The ground was properly trenched and thrown up into broad ridges, as recommended at p. 22 of this Treatise, with secondary drains between each ridge, communicating with the principal The ground was planted with a numerous variety of trees for the purpose of experiment. The results now obtained show that the poplar (Poplus nigra), willow (Salix alba et Russelliana), elm (Ulmus montana), sycamore (Acer pseudo-platanus), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), alder (Alnus glutiosa), locust (Robinia pseudo-acacia), birch (Betula), oak (Quercus robur), horse-chestnut (Esculus hippocastanum), Spanish chestnut (Castanea vesca), hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), lime (Tilia eur pœa), spruce fir (Pinus abies), with dog-wood (Cornus coccinea), privet (Ligustrum vulgare), holly (Ilex aquifolium), and hazel (Corylus avellara), as underwood;-these different species of trees have succeeded in the order nearly as they have been enumerated, the first eight-mentioned sorts having, up to this period, a decided advantage over the others. The Hon. Mr. Fiennes purposes to continue and extend this interesting investigation ; the results of which will decide the question, which is one of importance to the owners of soils of this nature.

Of the above varieties of soils, if we except the sandy loam No. 3, and the clayey loam No. 5, there is not one which, on its natural site, could be profitably cultivated under corn or green crops, but which, by skilful planting, might be made to return considerable profits to the owners, and also to the public the many advantages which judicious planting always

confers.

Although there may be found shades of difference in the proportions of the constituents of soils receiving the same designation, such, for instance, as the poor sandy soil, containing ten per cent. more or less of sand in one situation more than another, yet the actual produce of timber,

all other circumstances being equal, will be found to vary but little, if any. But where the difference in the proportions of the ingredients is found so great as exists between the sandy loam No. 3, and the poor sandy soil No. 2, or, in a wood as between any two of the soils now attempted to be described from practical experience in their culture, as well as from a careful chemical examination of their properties and constitution, a very marked and decisive difference will be found in the comparative produce of timber, and in the peculiar species or kinds of trees which should have been planted in the greatest number, or in preference to others,

CHAPTER V.

Of the most approved Modes of preparing different Soils for the reception of the Plants-Fencing, Draining, Ploughing, Trenching. Of the formation of Rides or Carriage-Ways into the interior of Plantations. O the best Mode of covering these with Herbage.

IN no improvement of landed property is economy in the first outlay of capital more essentially required than in forest planting. Want of attention to this important point has caused much loss to the country as well as to individuals, it having had the effect of discouraging forest planting generally, and more particularly of those lands emphatically termed wastes. The evil is perpetuated by statements confounding the expenses of planting different descriptions of land, such as that of a superior soil immediately connected perhaps with a mansion, and that of a distant hill or waste heath. In the former case the return of produce is early, great, and fully ample for every expense judiciously incurred in the plantation; while, at the same time, something must be allowed for obtaining the more immediate ornamental effect of wood. In the latter case the returns of profit are more distant, though equally certain, and the outlay of capital or expense of formation proportionally less. To estimate or make them equal to those of the first description of land, would be absurd, because unnecessary, and, in fact, impracticable, as in the case of rocky sites or thin heath soils, where the more expensive processes of the preparations of soils cannot be carried into effect. To say, therefore, that land cannot be profitably planted under a first outlay of ten pounds sterling an acre, or that the expense of planting should not exceed two, or at most three, is equally erroneous; although both statements, individually with reference to local circumstances, may be perfectly true and accurate.

Fencing is one of the most expensive but essential concomitants of planting; for unless young trees are completely protected by proper fences, extensive failure will be the certain consequence.

In general the materials fit for constructing plantation fences may be found on the spot. On sandy heath soils, the turf interwoven with the roots of heath or coarse herbage affords a ready and cheap material. We have seen a wall or dyke, built entirely of turf, last for a great number of years without wanting any repairs whatever. The turfs were cut to the depth of from three to five inches; according to the depth they were pervaded with the tough roots of grasses and heath, which tend to keep them firm and less assailable by the weather. This wall of turf was two feet wide at the foundation, and four feet and a half high, terminating at sixteen inches in thickness at the top. The turfs were built in rows alternately edgeways, and flat with the turf side downwards. The coping consisted of a row of turfs laid with the grass side upwards, and this continued permanent for many years. When the soil is clayey, or of a texture liable to

crumble by the effects of the weather, banks are thrown up four feet wide at bottom, four feet and a half high, and eighteen inches wide at the top. On the top a double row of furze should be sown, and the face of the bank defended from cattle by driving in stakes of forked larch or thorns, from two to two feet and a half in length. These stakes may be fixed in the bank about a fourth of the whole height of the bank from the furze, and pointing obliquely upwards. Where these stakes could be conveniently procured about the thickness of an inch and a half or upwards, we have found them to answer the purposes of a protection to the furze remarkably well these are the cheapest modes of fencing a plantation. Where stones fit for building a dry stone wall prevail on the site, they may be used with great advantage for constructing the fence. In building a dry stone wall, i. e., without mortar or cement of any kind, it is of importance that occasional courses of stones of a size to reach across the thickness of the wall should be laid in; these act as ties, and render the wall strong and lasting. The coping is another point of importance to be attended to: the best coping is that composed of flat stones placed edgeways, and made compact and immovable by driving in wedges of stone at such distances from each other in the coping as will produce the desired effect, and a very little experience or practice will teach the workman to place these wedges in their proper points. The expense of constructing this kind of fence varies according to local circumstances. The cost of fences of this description is stated by Sir John Sinclair in his highly valuable work, the Code of Agriculture, to vary from 4s. 6d. to 6s. the perch, which agrees with the results of our inquiries and experience on the subject.

When neither of the above simple fences can be conveniently adopted, a quick or thorn hedge is the most generally used, and in fact is the best and cheapest. There are several kinds of quick fences, which differ merely in the mode of planting the thorns (Crataegus oxycanthus). The white thorn is a plant much checked in growth by every other, whether herbaceous weed or shub, that mingles with it in the soil. It delights in a strong loam, on poor sands, or damp clay; its growth is much slower, and requires great attention in the preparation of the soil, in the selection of the plants, and in the mode of planting. It must be carefully protected from cattle and rabbits, which, by nipping off the tender first shoots of the spring, seriously injure its growth, and defeat the intention of raising an effective fence at the least cost, and in the shortest space of time.

On poor sandy soils, the depth of earth for the reception of the plants should be made as great as possible, and they should be placed on the top of the bank*. Manure of rotten leaves, compost of marl or clay, and dung, ashes, or any substance that will enrich the line of planting, should be dug in if possible for the encouragement of the roots of the young quick. Where the soil is damp and clayey, planting the thorns on the face of the bank is the best practice. The ground should be perfectly clean, or the cost of weeding it afterwards will be considerable, and the fence will make little progress, if it do not fail altogether.

The cost of the manure above alluded to will be amply repaid by the more rapid growth of the quick, saving much of the expense of weeding, and of filling up blanks and gaps in the hedge, which always accompanies the rearing of this kind of fence on poor or badly prepared ungenial land. The size of the plants deserves particular attention, for by planting strong three year old transplanted thorns, the success of the fence is secured, and the distance of time for its completion shortened by three years. To

*The Salix cinerea and one or two kindred species make useful and hardy fences if cut in the form of stakes, and driven in on the top lattice-form, seldom fail to strike root, and in the mean time form an effectual barrier.—Mr. Kingston.