of Growing Timber Trees. 371 



render the climate on mountains much more mild and 

 genial. 



This last kind of improvement will generally be found 

 very greatly to exceed the expectation of the improver, pro- 

 vided it be judiciously planned and executed, 



May I take the liberty to suggest, that information of 

 very great value might be obtained by the Society from the 

 gentlemen to whom medals and premiums have been given 

 for planting trees, if they would favour the Society with 

 their subsequent observations respecting those plantations. 



It would, for instance, be desirable to have the nature of 

 the soil and under strata described, — the sorts of trees best 

 suited thereto, — the distance at which the trees v\ere first 

 planted, — at what periods they were thinned, and how many 

 cut out at each thinning, and their measure and value, — the 

 present height, distance, measure, and value, of the trees 

 now growing on an acre, — what distances are found most 

 advantageous, and also the best height to be pruned. 



The fund of information that such communications plight 

 afford, would prove of very great value indeed to future 

 planters, as well as to many proprietors of plantations of 

 different ages now growing. 



If the Society should think it advisable to solicit this in- 

 formation, no doubt the ample and valuable materials they 

 would thereby obtain, would enable some abler pen to do 

 justice to the curious and important subjects of the preceding 

 pages. In the mean time it is hoped, that this attempt to 

 reduce our knowledge of the growth of timber to something 

 like system, however imperfect it may be, will be received 

 with indulgence. Assuredly, it had not so soon seen the 

 light, had not the present situation of our country impe- 

 riously demanded of every individual his utmost exertion to 

 render us as independent as possible of supplies of every 

 kind from the continent of Europe, from which we are now 

 almost totally excluded. 



C. Waistell. 



High Holborn, March 15, 1808. 



To Charles Taylor, M.D. Sec. 



A a 2 ' LXVI. On 



