PLANTATIONS.

In order to afford some facility to the reader in perusing what I may

write, I shall divide what I have to say into several distinct heads;

and, first, as to the

Present Modes of Planting.

Much may, and probably ought, to be said, on the errors of bad

planters: it is indeed a prolific, as well as an important subject;

and if there were any solid ground on which to rest a hope that an

exposure of all the mistakes which are made in planting, would lead to

the abandonment of such plans and practices as would be shown to be

wrong, it would be a duty worthy the exercise of talents of the highest

order. It does not, however, absolutely _require_ the aid of brilliant

talent, or fervid eloquence, to place these matters in their proper

light before those who are most concerned; a plain reference to facts

will be quite sufficient for that purpose.

The case of an Ancient Wood in an unthrifty and unprofitable condition,

does not stand out so prominently—it is not so glaringly discreditable

to its owner, as is a Plantation in the same state, which has been

made by himself; for as to the former, the fact that “_it always was

so_,” is, to a certain extent, an excuse for bad management; and

in truth, it will generally be found a very difficult affair, as I

have hinted before, to establish a _new system_ where the prejudice

of ages, in favour of an _old one_, will meet the person who may

attempt it, at every turn; but it is not so as to Plantations; when,

therefore, a gentleman decides to plant, and has himself to do with

the work _from the beginning_, both his interest, and his duty, point

out the necessity of his seeing that it be _well done_; but the very

reverse of this, is the _average_ of the general practice, as I shall

presently show. It would be quite foreign to my purpose, to refer to

the minor shades of difference which exist in the practice of planters:

such difference indeed may be met with, between plans which are each

in themselves excellent; I shall content myself, therefore, with

referring, and that in general terms, to the most glaring mistakes

which are committed, giving a few examples.

To an eye that can take in the whole, it is lamentable to see the

effects of ignorance and neglect, in the original formation, as well as

in the subsequent treatment, of Plantations! With many, it seems to be

expected that they will thrive and prosper, no matter how they may be

put in, whereas the very contrary is the fact. With many planters there

is a vague, indefinite notion—of course there is no _calculation_—that

when once they are planted, trees will grow, not only without labour or

culture, but under such adverse circumstances as at once convince the

experienced planter of the utter impossibility of their doing so. As I

have elsewhere said, a _young_ child, a _young_ animal, and a _young_

tree, all require the greatest possible attention, and the tenderest

treatment; and the blighting effects which must result, and which do

result, from _the absence of early attention_, are to be seen quite as

strongly marked in the last, as in the other two.

In numerous instances—and this I shall call mistake the first—the trees

are put in without any _previous preparation of the soil_. It is not

possible, in the ordinary run of cases, to commit a greater error than

this. It is, emphatically, to build upon a bad foundation, and it is

very rarely indeed that Plantations, so commenced, ever make any thing

out. When I say this, I do not mean to assert that they never become

trees of any size: _unfortunately they do_, in some situations, and men

are so ignorant—there is so little real scientific knowledge of the

subject to be met with anywhere—that the most erroneous conclusions are

drawn from this fact. The question as to what a Plantation might have

done, or what it _would_ have done, if it had been properly treated,

is never thought of! No one ever dreams of instituting a comparison

between such a Plantation as _it is_, and _as it ought to have been_.

And yet this is the very first question which should be asked, or

rather which should be _anticipated_.

But the majority of Plantations, which are commenced without any

preparation of the soil, are complete failures, as may be seen by any

one who chooses to take the trouble to examine for himself.

Influenced by a most mistaken notion of economy, many persons plant

their trees on land which is already fully occupied—it may be, by

ling, by bracken, or by long grass, or twitch—and in most cases of

this sort, the greater number die; but there may probably remain a

few which sustain a feeble existence, so as just to make _a show of

a Plantation_, and the owner seldom gives himself the trouble to

attempt to ascertain why it is no better. The method usually adopted,

when planting is done in this way, is, to dig small holes at fixed

distances, into which the plants are put by the workman in the best

manner that he can, and they are left to fight their way as best they

may.

Mr. Withers, of Holt, in Norfolk, has ably, and indignantly, denounced

the hole-digging system, and has shown, most clearly, the advantage

of “_the highest degree of culture_,” for raising timber, whether as

a pecuniary question, or where it is wanted for merely ornamental

purposes. It is true that an opinion at variance with his, has been

given by some, but every practical man will, at once, perceive where

the truth lies; nor will he be at any loss, whether, in the preparation

of a field for planting, to follow the directions of Sir Henry Steuart,

or those of Mr. Withers.

It was the practice of the latter gentleman, to trench his ground

from “fourteen to eighteen inches deep,” and on poor land, to “put

on as much manure as if turnips were intended to be sown,” and to

hoe and keep clean the land, _for seven years after planting_. The

results were, extraordinary rapidity of growth, and a consequent early

and ample return upon the capital invested, in addition to the full

accomplishment of an object, which is, of course, ardently desired by

every planter: viz.: the pleasure of seeing rapidly rise up before him,

a healthy and most promising race of trees.

The second mistake which I shall notice is a very common one; and is

committed by those who _prepare the land well, but, by a bad selection

of plants_, either as to age, or kind, or both, render success

impossible. The error as to _age_ consists, most frequently, in their

being _too old_: that as to the _kind_, in not choosing such as _are

adapted_ to the nature of the soil.

A third class of planters may be met with, who, to a certain extent,

avoid all the mistakes previously referred to, but who commit the

unaccountable blunder of throwing the various kinds promiscuously

together, without any _regard to congeniality as to the plants_; and

in this case, the trees that are really valuable are overtopped, and

mastered by a set of _worthless trash_, which, when full grown, are

hardly worth the trouble of cutting down. _When a Plantation is made

in this barbarous manner, and left in this state for twenty years, or

even less_, no subsequent efforts, however sound the judgment which is

exercised may be, can _wholly_ repair the mischief which is done. By

this mistake, an immense loss of property accrues to the proprietor,

and the worst of all is, that the trite consolation is not left

him, that what is “his loss, is another’s gain,” for here nobody is

benefitted; while to himself there is superadded the mortification of a

_loss of time_, “which no man can restore.”

That the strong language which I have here employed is fully justified,

will at once be admitted by every reflecting person, who has any

acquaintance with these matters; for it will appear at the outset, that

if a slow-growing tree is planted close to one which will grow half as

fast again, and if the slow grower is the tree _intended for timber_,

the latter must inevitably be so much damaged as to affect its health

for ever, if something be not done to relieve it.

I shall not, in this place, “remark” more particularly on this point,

than to say, that I have often seen the oak in this relative position,

with the alder, the birch, the poplar, the larch, and other trees.

To imagine that a comparatively slow-growing tree can be placed in

near contiguity with another whose rate of progress is much quicker,

_without_ receiving injury, is to manifest a want of knowledge of the

habits of trees, which may be excused in an amateur planter, but which

cannot be overlooked in a practical man, who is well paid for his

services.

A fourth error which is committed, is one upon which I have slightly

touched already, and refers to the question of _adaptation of the kind

of tree planted_, first, to _the nature of the soil planted upon_, and

next, _if the object of the planter be profit, to the local demand_.

Most serious mistakes have been committed upon both these points, even

by men whose writings have procured them a niche in the Temple of Fame.

Under this head a few cases will now be referred to.

It is impossible, at this distance of time, to fix the exact amount

of blame, or responsibility, which of right attaches itself to the

name of _Pontey_, for instance, who planted an immense tract of land

near Lincoln, belonging to that splendid charity, Christ’s Hospital:

tradition, which, however, may do him injustice, accuses him of having

contracted to plant with Larch and Oak, and having, on some pretence or

other, substituted Scotch Fir.

Whatever was the precise amount of _responsibility_ attaching to him,

I know not; he might be following out the letter of his instructions,

for ought that I can tell, but it is quite certain that, even with the

then imperfect knowledge which was possessed of the value of larch,

_a very great mistake_ was committed, in planting nearly a thousand

acres of land, which was well adapted both for oak and larch, with

profitless rubbish like that which is now seen upon it. A work of that

magnitude ought not to have been intrusted to any one who, either

from mercenary motives, or from limited views, was capable of falling

into such a gross error, as to the interests of his employers. It is

no exaggeration to say, that if the Skellingthorpe Plantation had

been planted, as it ought to have been, with oak and larch, together

with a few spruce firs, and if Pontey had left _suitable instructions

with those who had to take care of it, after his superintendence had

ceased_, it would now have been, at the most moderate computation,

_fifteen hundred per cent. more valuable than it is_!

If it were _private property_, I should not presume to add what I now

feel myself at perfect liberty to do, with reference to its present

condition, and the future prospect respecting it.

It is at present, almost universally, a _Scotch Fir Plantation_: these

are of a most miserable size, compared with what they might have been,

under good management, and they are withal very coarse. There may be

seen amongst them, just Larches enough to perpetuate the folly of the

original planter; and to excite, at his periodical sales, the keen

regret of the present Steward, that he has not more of them to sell.

There are also a few oaks, of such quality as fully to prove that they

would have thriven well—had they been planted. Further: the Scotch

firs are so thick, and they are _feathered down so low_, that the

Plantation is not _healthy_. It is true that, under the present _much

improved_ management, an attempt is being made to remedy this evil,

and it is quite clear, that the condition of the trees will gradually

be bettered, but the misfortune is—and here I come to speak of the

_prospects_ of the Plantation—that _they are not worth culture_. I have

no hesitation in stating this to be my deliberate opinion. The timber,

if timber it can be called, is worth almost _nothing now_, and, in such

a locality, I can see no probability of its ever realizing, so as to

justify those in whose care it is placed, in continuing it as it is.

The plain and obvious course of the managers of this fine estate, then,

is _to stub up the Scotch fir, and replant the land with oak and larch_.

In further proof of the propriety of this opinion, I would remark that,

in this locality, both oak and larch fetch _very high prices_, and

there are probable grounds for expecting that they always will do so;

while, if the present race of Scotch firs should stand as long again as

they have already stood, they will make comparatively little.

It is not too much to say, that if this Plantation were the property of

a private gentleman, the Scotch firs would be extirpated as speedily

as possible, and a systematic plan, providing that a certain number

of acres should be stubbed and re-planted every year, would at once

be laid down; but public bodies are not so easily moved, and it is

therefore to be feared, that, in this case, the _public_ will not, for

some time to come, derive that benefit from the property, which would

certainly be the result of proper management.

The whole might be re-stocked with suitable kinds of trees, without

any considerable outlay to the hospital, if arrangements were made

with a party capable of carrying out some such comprehensive plan as

the following; viz.: An agreement with a responsible person, carefully

worded, providing that he should stub, or grub up, a stipulated number

of acres at the commencement of a sort of lease, _taking the stuff_,

either in part payment, or wholly, if it were _sufficient_: and that

he should, on such terms as could be agreed upon, continue to grub up,

_and plant_, a specified number of acres every succeeding year.

In twelve years, _if the work were well done_, there would be some

return from the _thinnings of the piece first planted_; and the _rate

of return_ and profit, would, from that time, _continue to increase_

every year, until an amount would be realized which would much more

than equal the largest expectations of the Governors.

I shall only mention one case more, as to the want of adaptation of

the kind of tree _to the soil_, and to the local demand, and that is a

wood belonging to the Right Honourable Lord Middleton, at Stapleford,

near Newark, and which, some years ago, consisted almost entirely of

Scotch fir. It is now of an age and size that enables me to cite it in

proof of the opinion which I have given, relative to the _prospect_

for the Skellingthorpe Plantation. The timber has arrived at a good

marketable size, and is sold at as high a rate as there is any reason

to suppose would be made of the Skellingthorpe Scotch, when it shall

have reached to the same size. That price is _apparently_ moderate,

but it is so inferior in quality, or, perhaps, it is more correct to

say, such a bad opinion is formed of it, by most people, that when it

is converted into boards or scantling, the price it fetches is so low

as to hold out little inducement to Timber merchants to purchase it.

And as to the grower, I am persuaded that, if simple interest upon the

original investment were to be calculated, up to the time when the wood

first began to clear its own expences, and added to the first cost,

it would not be found that there is much surplus over the necessary

expences of management. At all events it would be seen there, as well

as at Skellingthorpe, from the little Larch and Oak which they have

had to sell, that the returns are comparatively small to what they

would have been, if Larch had first been planted along with Oak. This

large Plantation will, in the course of a few years, under the present

enlightened and skilful management, to a great extent, be cleared of

the Scotch firs; in place of which, the noble proprietor will have _a

race of fine oaks_, thus proving, to actual demonstration, the great

mistake which was originally committed, in occupying the land with a

class of trees which, when they have arrived at _maturity_, are of

comparatively little value.

I pass on to remark upon a fifth error. One gentleman will, from

motives of economy, _stick in the plants with as little labour as

possible_: another will aim at the same result, by putting in fewer,

or smaller plants than he ought to do. Both these, and indeed all the

parties, who are influenced by the same narrow and shortsighted views,

greatly err: these are not the _cheapest_, but the _most expensive_,

as well as the worst adapted, modes of planting. To insure a healthy

and vigorous _commencement_ to a Plantation, if that is followed up

by suitable treatment afterwards, is to secure both rapid progress,

and early maturity, and by necessary consequence, the largest possible

amount of pecuniary return.

Lastly, as to modes of planting, and without ranging either party among

those who are clearly and decidedly _mistaken_ in their views, one

class of persons will plant _thickly_, and another class will plant

_thinly_, from various motives, but both without paying due regard to

the capabilities, and adaptation of the soil, and, as is very natural,

in the absence of all calculation, both are frequently subjected to the

same result,—either a partial or complete failure of their expectations.

It is neither my purpose, nor is it in my power, to decide, upon

paper, what is the best average distance at which the trees of a young

Plantation should be placed from each other. Many questions ought to be

previously asked, as many very important considerations will present

themselves to the mind of a practical man, before he will decide.

In the average of cases, where _planting for profit_ is the object, the

question is not one of much practical difficulty; but in many others,

the primary purpose, or the ultimate aim, of the planter—the local

market—the cost of plants, &c. will claim very special attention.

When the object is to beautify the Landscape, or to produce effect in

the immediate vicinity of a Mansion, it will be necessary to set aside

ordinary rules, and to depart from _some_ of the recognized principles

which ought always to govern, in planting for profit. But even here,

nothing should be done, nothing should be attempted, which is not

in strict consistence with those general laws which the principles

of vegetable physiology impose, alike on a Gentleman who removes a

large tree upon the plan recommended by Sir Henry Steuart, and on the

practical Planter, who is professionally employed to plant a large

tract of country.

It is no part of my business to remark upon the merits of the

respective plans which have been tried by different persons, for

enriching the scenery of a Park; but I have no difficulty in saying

that, where it is well understood and properly carried out, the

combination of Sir Henry’s plan, with the judicious arrangement of

small Plantations; putting into a well prepared soil, good, stout,

well-rooted, and vigorous plants, at a considerable distance, will

best effect that object. And as I have referred to Sir Henry Steuart’s

method of removing large trees, it will not be out of place here to

observe, that the _abuse_ of that plan has very frequently brought

it into disrepute, and given birth to the conclusion, that it was

not adapted to the end proposed: and thus blame has fallen on the

ingenious, skilful, and scientific Baronet, instead of its resting

on the heads of those whose “mismanagement” had actually invited the

failures which they were doomed to suffer.

Those who have most carefully attended to Sir Henry’s instructions in

removing large subjects, will have been most successful; and while they

will be the first to admit that the plan is one of very considerable

difficulty, and requiring the greatest possible amount of attention;

they will be the most powerful and decided witnesses in its favour, for

the purposes for which it is here recommended.

But when Plantations on a large scale are desired, and when the planter

considers his _posterity_ more than himself, there can be no doubt at

all, that, on certain qualities of soil, _tolerably thick_ planting

is best. And if it be desired to have a race of fine noble Oaks, they

must be put in _very thick_, and the planter must not expect, during a

life of average duration, _any profit at all_; for, in order to secure

his object, he must, first, _prepare the ground well_: and next, he

must either _sow acorns_, or he must put in _an immense number of

plants_—and, in either case, he will incur a heavy outlay. He must, for

the first seven years, _keep the ground clean_, and he must plant along

with the Oak, a selection of those kinds of trees, _as nurses_, which

are best adapted to the purpose, and not those which might probably, at

the earliest period, find their way into the _local_ market, and make

the best price when there; although these points should not be left out

of consideration.

But now, the question as to planting, or sowing, or, if the former be

preferred, that of the distance of the plants, being settled, the next

which presents itself is this: what kinds shall be planted as the

Nurses for the Oak.

Here again, a good deal will depend upon the object of the planter, the

nature of the soil, and the exact arrangements which are made at the

time of planting; for it might be quite proper to plant a species of

Tree in one place, while, owing to a difference in the staple or the

condition of the soil, it would be just the reverse in another.

The remarks which I shall have to make on this subject have, in some

degree, been anticipated by the observations which I have already

made, respecting the Skellingthorpe Plantation, but a more particular

reference to a few well-known kinds, may not be amiss.

I begin with the _Larch_, which, from its great value to Farmers and

others, is fairly entitled to precedence.

The Larch is found, in greater or smaller proportions, in most places

where Plantations are made; and it is entirely the planter’s fault, if

he be not well acquainted with its character, as a nurse for Oak. I say

this, because it has been so extensively tested, and its habits are so

well known, that no one, having the slightest wish to become acquainted

with it, can have failed for want of opportunity.

I have very often seen the Larch where it has proved an exceedingly bad

nurse; where, in fact, instead of nursing the Oaks, it has destroyed

them: but this has, of course, arisen from “mismanagement,” and might

have been avoided. When good, stiff, healthy Oak Plants are put in

with Larch only, or but with very few of any other sort, the Larch

ought not, in the first place, to be put _too near_—the exact distance

can only be determined relatively to that of the Oaks—secondly: an

advantage should be given to the Oaks, if possible, _at the start_;

either by assigning them a portion of the soil from the land intended

for the Larch, or in some other way; after which, if the latter are

constantly watched, they will approve themselves very suitable and

valuable nurses; but if they are allowed, as they too generally are,

to take the lead of the Oak, they will plentifully avail themselves of

the licence, to the serious and, perhaps, irreparable injury of that

plant.

For large Plantations, intended for profit, it may be questioned

whether, in the first instance, any thing else than Oak and Larch

should be planted, and the distance must be decided after due

consideration is given to the quality and condition of the land.

If, however, a disposition is felt to plant other kinds, as nurses,

there can be no objection, provided that their companionship is made

fully to square with the well-being of the trees intended for timber.

But where it is intended to introduce nothing that shall not act as a

good nurse for the Oak, exception must certainly be taken to the Alder,

the Poplars, the Sycamore, the Horse Chesnut, the Birch, and the Scotch

Fir, &c. Not one of these discovers any congeniality for the Oak, nor

any fitness for the office of nursing it; and it does really appear to

my mind, as most unaccountably strange, that trees of all sorts should,

without forethought, or calculation—and most particularly, that no

reference should be made to their suitability or adaptation for the

circumstances in which they are to be placed—be planted at a greater

cost than would have sufficed to procure an ample number of the right

sort.

Upon a suitable soil, the Spruce Fir has always appeared to me, to

be decidedly and incomparably the best nurse of the Oak. I have, for

instance, often seen, on a clay soil, a Spruce Fir, and an Oak of

twenty-five years growth, flourishing admirably, in close proximity

with each other—even within a foot and a half. I do not think that this

could be said of any other tree than the Spruce Fir; but besides this,

there is almost always a very peculiar healthiness about the Oaks,

where the Spruce has been planted and cherished as the principal nurse.

There seems to be the best possible understanding between them—no

struggling for pre-eminence—no blighting influence exercised by the one

over the other. But the Spruce Fir is not found to flourish so well on

some soils as on others: it will therefore, mostly, be advisable to

unite with it, for a number of years, the _Larch_, which may be so

placed as to be all weeded out during the course of thinning, which

ought to commence in a few years after planting, and go on until there

remains nothing but Oak in possession of the ground.

In concluding my remarks on Planting, I cannot help referring to the

specimens of sowing and thick planting, which may be seen on the

extensive estate of the Duke of Portland, at Welbeck, and in that

neighbourhood. It has always been His Grace’s practice, either to sow

Acorns, or to plant Oaks, in alternate beds, having Larch between. If

the Oaks were planted, they were put in _very thickly_; and although

their progress was necessarily slower than it would have been, if they

had been allowed more room, it cannot be doubted that His Grace had a

great advantage in the almost unlimited choice which it gave him, of

trees _of perfect form_, for the ultimate crop of timber.

The system of _thick planting_ has been fully carried out: having

prepared the ground well, His Grace appears to have never lost sight,

for an instant, of the young trees that he had undertaken to rear:

there has been no mistaken practice—no niggardly economy—no ruinous

neglect, rendering all his previous care abortive, and sacrificing his

large outlay at the commencement. When the Plantations have required

attention, they have evidently had it.

The admirer of fine timber will see, in the Duke’s Plantations and

grounds, some of the most perfectly formed trees that can be conceived

of, and that not on a small scale, but to an extent as comprehensive as

that truly noble Duke’s genius, of whom it may probably be said that

he unites, in his mind and person, as many of those qualities which

constitute true Nobility, as any Gentleman of his day.

It is not in the power of my feeble pen to show the immense amount

of good which has accrued to the immediate neighbourhood, from the

employment of the poor in the locality, in carrying on, and in

completing, those splendid improvements which His Grace has originated,

and which have caused the literal desert to “blossom as the rose”: much

less can I describe the area of the vast circle, within which the most

beneficial effects have been felt, from the influence of the noble

Duke’s example, while perfecting, as he has done, his various plans for

the improvement of his fine estate.

In the Welbeck Plantations will be found, as I have said, a class

of trees, most perfectly suited to the situations where they stand,

and giving the surest promise of future superiority: but what, let

me ask, would have been the quality of the Oaks, if the noble Duke

had jumbled together an incongruous admixture of _various sorts_, as

has been recommended by various writers of eminence, even in our own

day? I am not disposed to enter into a controversy with any of those

who have recorded their opinions in their writings, otherwise I might

have plenty of work on my hands: it will be quite as much as ought

to be expected from me, if I defend my own: but I would just quote a

single paragraph from an interesting and useful, but, on some points,

incorrect volume, published by “The Society for the diffusion of

Useful Knowledge.” It is entitled “Useful and Ornamental Planting.”

The passage to which I refer, will be found in the 43rd page, and runs

thus:

“_Simple Plantations_ consist of one or two species of trees only;

_mixed Plantations_ of many different species. The latter, on suitable

soils, are the most profitable: they afford an earlier, more permanent,

and a larger return for Capital than simple Plantations.”

In a book where there is so much to commend, where so many valuable

practical directions are given, it cannot but excite regret, to meet

with a paragraph so vague and unsatisfactory as the above; for I cannot

but remark, that if any planter should adopt the suggestion which is

thrown out, it will end in disappointment and loss. It will, in my

judgment, generally be best for the planter to select such trees for

nurses as are most congenial, and best adapted to the local market; and

surely these will not be the Birch, the Beech, the Alder, or the Scotch

Fir; none of which are ever found to answer the purpose of nursing

the more valuable timber trees, or of securing a fair return for the

investment of capital.

It is true that the opinion which I have quoted, is afterwards

qualified by the remark, that certain “circumstances connected with the

growth of the various species of forest trees, effectually control

the planter in his modes of arrangement, &c.” but even with this

limitation, the planter is liable to be misled, for he is not taught to

set a higher value upon the Larch, which may in almost every locality

be planted with a much better chance of profit, than the other kinds

with which it is ranked, and which ought therefore, if profit be the

object, for that reason alone, to be preferred.

In any thing else but planting, the mischief of such a mistake,

as producing that which was worthless when produced, would, in a

short time, have cured itself; but so little of science, or even of

common calculation, have been brought to bear upon the practice of

Arboriculture, that, notwithstanding the evidence which is every where

to be met with, of serious “loss and disappointment,” for want of

calculation, these matters go on very much as they “always have done.”

Finally, as to planting, it must, in every case, be perfectly clear

to one who is competent to judge, that, whether the object be profit

merely, or the embellishment of the landscape, the land ought to be as

well prepared as circumstances will permit, and that _such species of

trees should be preferred, as are best adapted to the specific object

of the planter_.

The distance at which the plants shall be put in, is more a matter of

opinion than some planters would be inclined to admit. For myself, I am

disposed to think, that some advantages are lost to a Plantation, under

certain combinations of soil and circumstances, when it is planted

_thickly_, but I would not either rate the loss too highly, or express

my opinion, with unseemly positiveness: my notion is, that the supposed

advantages of planting thickly may generally be supplied by _early,

judicious pruning_, and that the progress of the Plantation would be

facilitated thereby: that, in fact, a Plantation of trees at a distance

of three feet, being properly assorted, having had a good start,

and suitable treatment in all respects afterwards, would reach any

given point as to size, and quality, in less time than would another

Plantation, upon the same soil, if the method of either sowing acorns,

&c., or planting very thickly, were adopted. In saying this, I by no

means wish to condemn the practice of thick planting; to do this, in

the face of proofs of success, such as I have described as existing

in this country, would be an absurdity of which I would not willingly

be guilty; but at the same time, I would not hesitate to range myself

among those who _prefer_, under ordinary circumstances, to plant at

a moderate distance, and rely upon _early pruning_, for securing the

object which the close planter has in view, viz., length of bole, or

stem, and clearness of grain.