366 Method of ascertaining the Value 



latter, to exceed it in measure, to say nothing of the excess 

 of timber in the larger lop and branches. It must, however, 

 be remarked, that at eighty years of age, the forty feet bole 

 will exceed the thirty-two feet bole nearly six feet; and at 

 one hundred years, thirteen feet, provided it swell equally 

 fast in thickness. But unless the trees be oak, fit for the 

 •use of the navy, for which an increased price can be had, I 

 imagine few gentlemen would now choose to let their trees 

 stand to eighty years of age, when the increase of their boles 

 will not be four per cent. ; still fewer would let them stand 

 to one hundred, when the increase will not be three percent, 

 per annum. 



Again, let it be supposed that trees sixty years of age 

 have increased annually, during their growth, fifteen inches 

 in height, and one inch and a half in circumference, the 

 girt and contents of their boles, if of the under-mentioned 

 lengths, will be as under, viz. 



Trees with 20 feet boles, will be 19} inches girt at 10 feet high, 

 Do. 25 do. IS] do. I2>- do. 



Do. 30 do. IS do. 15 do. 



Do. 40 do. 1$| do. 20 do. 



Do. 50 do. 15 do. 25 do. 



Taking it for granted that the shorter boles will 

 faster in thickness than the longer ones, it is reasonable to 

 expect that the forty feet bole will contain more timber than 

 the fifty feet bole when they are both sixty years old ; and 

 if they are both sold at the same rate per foot, the forty feet 

 bole must consequently be more valuable. If, however, 

 a higher price can be had for longer boles, this may com- 

 pensate not only for their deficiency in measure at sixty 

 years of age, but also for their standing beyond the period 

 when they cease paying the common rate of interest for the 

 money they are worth, which I suppose is frequently the 

 case as to tall elm trees, fit for keel pieces, and perhaps 

 beech for ship planking. It is hence evident, that where 

 the soil is such as will enable trees to grow to a great height, 

 it will be necessarv, before we decide how high to prune 

 them, to consider to what purposes the timber can be most 

 advantageously appropriated. 



S Whatever 



