174 IMPROVEMENT OF WOODS AND PLANTATIONS. [Jan. 



and an interminable amount of what is known as red-tape ; lience 

 their strained relations with forest conservators. 



A deputy interposed with the remark of Dubois Crance, president 

 of the Convention, " Let us profit by the deficit to destroy the abuse." 



At the adjourned sitting tlie Minister of Agriculture replied that 

 the time of passing from one grade to another by the inferior officers 

 had now been reduced to five years ; further, that such men, under 

 present regulations as to attendance in the secondary school at Barres, 

 could attain the rank of conservator at forty-six years of age. 

 Eecently twenty-nine out of fifty-eight gardes-general had obtained 

 promotion, — certainly a fiiir average. 



ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF WOODS AND PLANTATIONS, 



ALSO A TRACT OF MOORLAND UPON AN ESTATE 



IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND. 



by george dodds, ■fttkeside gqttage, laxcastek. 



Part T. 



THERE now lies before us an elaborate report l_iy the above 

 author, giving in great detail the contemplated plantings upon 



the estate of the Eight Hon. the Earl of S . From internal 



evidence, this estate does not lie far from the author's cottage. 

 The limits of our space compel only reference to these in an 

 epitomized form. 



The report gives particulars of the present state of nine woods 

 and plantations on the estate covering 802 acres, varying in e.xtent 

 from 4, 36, to 265 acres. Some contain Scotch pine, larch and 

 birch, spruce and alder, from 25 to 50 years old, mixed with Iiard- 

 woods of various ages. Of course it would be tedious to the mass 

 of readers to print the proposed treatment in detail, and we tliere- 

 fore note only some of its salient points on plantation No. 1, which 

 include the removal of all underwood, the felling of most of the 

 :uatured larches, and thinning so as to leave the stronger trees 

 standing clear of each other. Pines and birches standing apart only 

 occupy the ground unprofitably. Then ditches are to be scoured 

 out to the depth of 30 inches, open cuts being made to wet areas, 

 while the earth taken from these is to be regularly spread over the 

 land on their sides. Fences, too, must be attended to. If this 

 work be prosecuted in summer, the area thus treated will only be 

 in a fit state for replanting after lying fallow all the following 

 spring. Oaks 20 feet apart, with 1 silver fir in tlie centre of 

 each of the squares formed by the oaks, with larches intermixed 



