Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/415

393&#93; PLA curing the bite of a mad dog, as well as lliat of other raving ani- mals. PLANTAIN, the Greater- Water, orTHRUMwoRT, Alisma PLaritago, L. a native perennial plant, growing in watery places, on the banks of pools and rivers ; and flowering from July to August, ■^Tliis acrid and poisonous vege- table is extremely delelerious to sheep and cattle : hence it ought to be caretully eradicated in the spring, or summer, before it can be farther propagated bv its seeds. PLANTATION, a term denot- ing, in general, a traft of land as- signed to a planter, or person who engages to sett'e in a new colony. It also signifies a particular spot oi ground planted with young trees, in order to foi ra a wood or forest. Plantations may be established on moors, and other indifferent soils, after the ground has been drai;:ed, or otherwise jorepared for the reception of trees, in the usual manner. If the land be fertile, it should previously beploui;hed; a small portion of lime scattered ; and a brake-harrow passed over the soil, with a view lo destroy the couch-grass : by this easy manage- ment, the ground will not only be completely cleared, but considera- ble trouble will thus be avoided for the future. — When tiie soil is re- duced to a proper state, it may be planted with trees, that ought lo be from four to six feet in hciglit, and to be placed about eight or ten feet asunder^ in such situations as may be most congenial to their re- spective nature. The ground should be hoed three or four times in the year; and, during the interval^ those plants which stand too closely together, may be advantageou.->ly removed to other situations, where PLA [39: they are sheltered. This practice cannot fail oi being attended with the greatest success : for the plan- tation will, in tiie course of seven years, produce sntficient foliage to shade the ground ; and, as the dry couch-grass, or other weeds, will be prevented from causing any in-, jury, the farther application of the hoe will become unnecessary. Independently of the great value of plantations to posterity, they af- ford immediate advantages to their possessor. Where two or more trees interfere, and thus mutually obstruct their growth, the most thriving should be reserved, and the others felled for underwood j but, if such expedient should render the plantation too thin, it will be suthcient to pollard, or lop the tree of interior quality ; and, if it be a larch, or spruce-hr, to trim the part that impedes llie growth of its neighbour. This operation, how- ever, ought to be regularly perform- ed at an earhf period, because there wi;l otherwise be no underwood ; nor will the principal trees acquire a substance proportioned to their height ; and, if t!ie thinning be delayed, they will be unable to re- sist iiigh winds. Such trinimings may be advantageou-,iy employed during severe r.inters, in feeding cattle, that will eat the leaves, to- gether with the twigs, or small branches : the refuse, or poles, when barked, may be cut into bil- lets fur In-e-wood, or ihey may be converted into rails, for tencing. ORXAMi:XTAL PLANTATIONS. As there are many situations wiiich may be easily provided with beautiful vegtt;d)le productions, without incurring great expence, we have subjoined a list of the most elegant siirubs, but chiefly oi p(«reii-