Present mode of managing Plantations after they are made.
Abiding still, most strictly, by the rule laid down for myself, to
deal with every part of my subject practically, I proceed to observe,
that the instances where Plantations are treated with due regard to
the principles of Arboricultural science, are not the rule, but the
exceptions to the rule, as every scientific planter, who has looked
round him, must know.
Instead of the trees intended for timber being nursed with the
tenderest care from their infancy—instead of their being treated
according to the known and fixed laws which regulate, and effectually
control, the economy of vegetable life, whether men attend to them
or not—they too frequently meet with treatment which is in direct
opposition to those laws. I shall show this as clearly, and as plainly,
as I can.
When a gentleman has decided to plant, when he has fixed upon the right
mode of doing it, and has finished it in a proper manner; so far he
has done all that could be expected from him; but if, after this, he
leaves his Plantation to itself for five, ten, or fifteen years, he
transgresses the laws to which I have referred; and his error is one of
_omission_.
Again: were the same gentleman, after the lapse of ten years, or even
less, to enter his Plantation, and cut and thin _very freely_, he would
violate those laws by an error of _commission_, and in this case, as
well as the other, the Plantation would very materially suffer.
A Plantation which should be subjected, at so early a stage of its
existence as ten or fifteen years, to the ordeal of both these classes
of errors, could have but little chance of succeeding: it could not be
expected to make any more than very slow progress after such treatment
as this: and yet this is exactly the way in which many Plantations are
managed, at _all_ stages of their growth. I have recently met with
a splendid Larch Plantation, which has never been thinned, from the
first, except by “fits and starts”; of which injudicious treatment, I
could see very serious “outward and visible signs.” Although it is upon
exceedingly weak and poor land, it would have produced, _if it had been
properly managed_, a fine class of Larches, which would have yielded
to the proprietor an abundant return upon his outlay. If any one doubt
this, let him look around and see if he cannot find a Plantation of
forty or fifty years growth, which is crowded with trees—say of Larch
only—and he will, upon examination, perceive that there are two or
three distinct classes of trees still standing, all of which ought,
long before, to have been taken out; and that there is _but one class
of Larches_, probably, which should be standing. The other two classes
which I have just mentioned, would be found, if the fact could be
clearly come at, very nearly of the same size as they had been many
years before; inasmuch as they could not possibly make any wood, being
themselves overtopped by their more thriving and vigorous neighbours.
It is perfectly obvious too, that the injury arising to the Plantation
would not stop here. So long as under-strappers were allowed to remain,
they would, to a certain extent, have the effect of preventing the
admission of light and air into the Plantation, which would materially
affect the health and the progress of the standard trees.
The errors of _omission_ are both serious and numerous: those of
_commission_, great though they be, are not equally so. The former
are generally first in the order of time, for where one Plantation is
injured from _too early thinning_, there are ten that suffer for the
want of it; and this early neglect affects the vitality and prosperity
of a Plantation much more than might be supposed. Omitting to do what
ought to be done will, however, be very prejudicial to the health of
Plantations at any stage of their existence, and it is quite well known
to the experienced Forester, that they ought ever to be watched with
most tender care, until the planter is fully satisfied that he has
completed the nursing and training of a sufficient number of standard
trees, to furnish the ultimate crop.
But errors of omission sometimes admit of remedy; whereas, if injury is
committed by excessive thinning, or by cutting down trees which ought
to have remained, it is often difficult, and sometimes impossible,
to repair the mischief that is done. Both the errors to which I have
alluded, must be avoided by the planter who would desire to have a
healthy and _continuously thriving_ Plantation.
Having considered well the following points, viz., the preparation of
his land—the selection of the species of trees that he will plant—their
size and quality—and the distance at which they shall stand from each
other, he must remember that, from the very first, they will not only
require, but they will well pay for, his closest attention. During
the first seven years, he may, probably, have little else to do at
them than to _keep the land clean_; but this will, in some degree,
depend upon the distance which he has chosen for them; and on the kind
which he intends for the final crop of timber. But whatever _they_ may
be—whether the Oak alone, or along with some other species, the trees
intended for timber will demand the peculiar, the unremitted, attention
of the planter: his object must ever be to deal with all the rest, with
distinct, direct, and positive reference to _the careful nursing of
those_: and it must always be borne in mind, that whatever be the fate
of the _nurses_, those which I will again distinguish from the rest,
by calling them the _standard trees_, must, if possible, be kept in
vigorous health. This can only be done, concurrently with the ultimate
object of securing great length of bole, by _pruning_ of some sort or
other. If the trees are so planted as to insure _natural_ pruning,
no other, _except of the nurses_, will be required, but the first
operation will be _thinning_; which should be done with great care and
judgment. Where it is not so done, it is more than probable that trees
will be taken which should have been left, and the contrary. As it
respects the Oak, the principal point to be aimed at is, to spare all
those, as the thinning goes on, that have the best defined heads. This
will be an easy matter with an experienced and well-taught planter,
or woodman, and the difficulty, if any there be, will be less at each
succeeding thinning, as the heads of the trees develope themselves.
But when trees are not planted so thickly as to insure length of
bole by natural pruning, they must be pruned with the knife and the
bill-hook, and the earlier the operation is begun, the better.
I doubt not but some of my readers will stamp this advice with
their unqualified disapprobation. It may be very good and correct
notwithstanding. My own experience, as well as that of many others whom
I have consulted, convinces me that the notion, which so extensively
prevails, as to the injurious effects of pruning, is _decidedly
incorrect_. It may have had its origin in the evidence of injury to
timber, which has been furnished by _injudicious pruning_; and thus
what would have else been universally seen to be necessary, has come
to be almost universally condemned: but this is a common error, and has
been too often shown, to render it necessary for me to expose it here.
Some very valuable observations on pruning have been published by Mr.
Main, in his excellent little work, entitled “The Forest Planter and
Pruner’s Assistant.” At page 53, the following paragraph occurs: “But
the only part of a woodman’s duty which does not appear to be well
defined, or at least not generally agreed upon by practical men, is
relative to the necessity of carefully pruning and managing the trees
during the first fifteen or twenty years of their growth.”
I quote the last member of the above with entire approbation: that is,
so far as the necessity for pruning is recognized in it: and I further
think, that the reasons which are given by Mr. Main for pruning, and
the manner in which he has illustrated his principle—the clear and
satisfactory way in which he has treated the whole subject—entitle him
to the confidence, and to the thanks, of all who are interested in the
growth of trees. But I am very far indeed from agreeing with him in the
opinion so adventurously given, that “the best methods of preparing
the ground for the reception of the plants—manner of transplanting—the
soils most suitable for each species—are all _thoroughly_ and
_universally_ understood.” My belief is, on the contrary, that
comparatively few planters, or woodmen, _do_ “_thoroughly_” understand
these matters. If they did, their practice would not be so extensively
wrong as it is. If it were so, why have planters so widely differed?
Why is there seen such discrepancy in their modes of management?
But what does Mr. Main wish his readers to understand by the term
“_practical men_”? If he refer to those who have the oversight and the
direction of the practical operations included in the “preparation of
the soil for the reception of the plants—manner of transplanting—the
soils most suitable for each species, &c.”; and if he wish to convey
the idea that, by this class of persons, these points are “_thoroughly
and universally understood_,” I hold him to be wholly and widely wrong:
but if he only mean that _scientific men_, who have well studied
the subject, and who have written upon it, and _really intelligent
woodmen_, are agreed as to the best practice, I do not greatly differ
from him; nor do I conceive that the main point, at which I have aimed
in this publication, will be at all affected by any concession which
I make to this effect: my principal object has been, and will be, to
show that, however clearly and strongly may have been shown, _the
propriety of acting in conformity with the principles of science_,
in the original formation of Woods and Plantations, in the planting
of Hedge-row Timber, and in the general management of them all, the
_practice_ of “_practical men_,” has been, “except as before excepted,”
so bad, that the most charitable conclusion which can be drawn is, that
they “_thoroughly_” _misunderstand_ almost every part of the subject!
It seems rather to me, that instead of there being only one point in
their practice on which they need enlightenment, that there is but
one on which they may be said to agree, and that is in a _thorough_
contempt for all rules, all principles, all science! in other words,
that this class of persons has displayed an amount of ignorance,
(which, however, has been more their _misfortune_ than their _fault_,)
and the want of a proper apprehension of the nature and extent of their
obligations, and duties, which has no parallel in the management of
any other description of property.
But this is a digression: I pass on, therefore, to the question of
_pruning_, on which I would again commend to the notice of my readers,
the valuable remarks of Mr. Main, as well as some excellent practical
observations from the pen of that veteran in the service, Francis
Blakie, Esq., late Steward to the Earl of Leicester, from whose
small pamphlet, entitled “A Treatise on the Management of Hedges and
Hedge-row Timber,” the most useful information may be gathered.
Mr. Main’s is an able and lucid examination of the question of pruning,
and, to my thinking, most fully and satisfactorily settles it. He shows
that when pruning is properly done, and when it is commenced _early_
enough, and so managed as to secure the desired result in fifteen or
twenty years, it may not only be done with safety, and without material
injury to the timber, but that no other plan or practice will answer
so well. This he clearly proves upon scientific data, familiarly
illustrated by numerous plates, and confirmed by practical statements.
If, however, it were only from _neglecting to prune_ that the
Plantations of this kingdom had gone wrong, the “mismanagement” would
not have furnished a subject for remarks so strong as it now does; but,
as I have stated over and over again, the practice is, in most cases
and on many accounts, at every stage of their progress, almost as bad
as it can be.
The treatment which a Plantation ought to receive, may be comprised in
a very few words. The principals will require pruning from an early
period after being planted, and the pruning must be continued, more or
less, according to circumstances, either every year or every alternate
year, until it is from fifteen to twenty years old; and, during the
same period, a small portion of _thinning_ will probably be required.
As to the _nurses_, they must be watched constantly after the fourth
year, and they must be treated with sole reference to the prosperity
of the other trees; _they_ may, therefore, be pruned, or lopped in
any way that will best subserve that end. Of course I am now speaking
of Plantations where the trees are not put nearer to each other than
three feet, and when, in consequence, they must have _artificial_
pruning.
In cases where pruning begins _soon enough_, the question which has
been raised as to the manner of doing it—whether by _close_ pruning,
_snag_ pruning, or fore-shortening—will not apply. All the principals
should be _close pruned_ with a sharp instrument, care being taken
not to wound the bark too extensively. The principle to be kept in
view at all times, when dealing with a Plantation, is, _to subject it
to no sudden changes_, but when pruning is found to be insufficient,
to commence a course of _gradual thinning_, which shall not, in any
considerable degree, at any period, _disturb the temperature of the
Plantation_. If this point be duly attended to, and a sound judgment
be exercised in selecting the principals, the planter’s most sanguine
expectations will not be disappointed.
So far as I have ventured to offer suggestions for the _proper_
management of Plantations, I have intended them to apply to such as are
not over twenty years of age; but it is well known to all who concern
themselves in such matters, that a class of Plantations ranging above
that age, up to forty or fifty, may be met with in various localities,
which stands much in need of better “management.” In all cases of great
neglect, which has been continued more than twenty years, the nicest
judgment is necessary. The difficulty is, however, always in proportion
to the _degree_ of neglect. Where the trees have been put in thickly,
and nothing, or almost nothing, has been done, little can be expected
even from the most judicious treatment; but still the means ought to be
tried, for one thing is quite certain, viz., that the longer remedial
steps are put off, the less chance there must be of their doing any
good.
If, when the Plantation has been thus neglected, a person is called in
who does not fully understand what he is about, irreparable mischief
will be done: he is almost sure to thin _too freely_. A proprietor of
long neglected Plantations must, therefore, be well assured beforehand,
that the person he employs will be guided in the course he takes by
correct views, both practical and scientific, upon the whole subject;
and when such is the case, the most suitable and appropriate plans will
be adopted.
Should any one demand of me before I close, some data on which he may
judge whether or not a Plantation is in a condition requiring unusual
attention, I offer the following:
First: If, upon examination, it be found that the trees intended for
timber have not an aspect and position superior to the others which are
around them:
Secondly: If, at any period after twenty years from the time of
planting, it be found difficult to identify and point out the trees
which are to be the final crop:
Thirdly: When there are any decided indications of a want of health and
vigour, there is proof sufficient that something more is required to
be done than has yet been done. The grosser cases of Plantations which
have never been entered for any purpose, for five, ten, fifteen, or
twenty years together, need not be pointed at. Every one who sees them
must perceive the necessity of their being relieved without loss of
time. No plant, of which we have any knowledge, can exist without light
and air, and in proportion to the extent to which they are excluded
from Plantations, will be the injurious effect produced upon the health
of the trees. In fact, it may be laid down as a universal rule, that
_in proportion to the judgment and discrimination which are exercised
in gradually admitting both light and air into Plantations, of almost
every description_, will be their healthy progress.
I conclude my remarks on this part of my subject by observing that,
having admitted, as I most fully and readily do, that a _few_
instances may be met with in almost every county where the science of
Arboriculture is tolerably well understood, and its principles carried
out, I must still contend that cases enough may be found—First; of a
want of preparation of the ground: Secondly; of an improper selection
of plants, either as to kind or size: Thirdly; of an unsuitable
admixture of them: Fourthly; of mistakes committed as to their
distance from each other: Fifthly; when they are injured for want of
early attention: Sixthly; when injury is done to them for want of,
or from imprudent, or excessive, thinning, to fully justify me, or
any one else, in bringing before the public the “_mismanagement_” of
Plantations.