REARING AND MANAGEMENT OF HARDWOOD PLANTATIONS. 373 
XVII. On the Rearing and Management of Hardwood Plantations. 
By A. M‘D. Grant, Assistant Forester, Hopetoun, South 
Queensferry. 
The rearing and management of hardwood plantations is one of 
the most important branches of Forestry. It has been ably and 
extensively treated by some of the most eminent arboriculturists 
of the day. The subject is, however, by no means exhausted. 
To be properly understood, it requires not only diversified experi- 
ence, but careful study as well. On the treatment which planta- 
tions receive from time to time, depends, to a very great extent, 
the success of the undertaking both from a utilitarian and esthetic 
point of view. The forester may, in fact, be said to hold the 
future welfare of a plantation in his hands. If, for instance, a 
mistake be made in the methods of planting adopted; if the 
distribution of the trees be not properly carried out; if the 
draining of the ground be injudiciously executed; or if indis- 
criminate pruning or thinning be indulged in, the desired ends 
will never be attained, the result being that the planter must 
suffer not only disappointment, but discouragement and loss to 
boot. In laying out a plantation, the first considerations to be 
attended to are, the nature of the soil, altitude, exposure, the 
manner in which the produce to be raised is to be got out of the 
plantation, and the particular object the plantation itself is to 
serve, If these points be kept in view, and if the after manage- 
ment be properly carried forward, there is no reason why the 
labours of those concerned should not be crowned with success. 
Hardwood plantations may be said to include those grown for 
scenic effect, and those for profit alone. In my opinion, however, 
some attention can always be paid to the landscape effect without 
interfering with the value of the plantation, or incurring much 
expense on its cultivation. The circumstances and views of the 
proprietor have, of course, a good deal to do with this. In most 
cases, however, there is generally some pains taken to enhance 
the beauty of the landscape, but everybody is, I should say, alive 
to the fact that profit is the paramount object to be attained. 
In treating the subject under consideration, I shall, in the 
meantime, endeavour to point out a course of treatment which 
may reasonably be expected to produce satisfactory results, both 
from a pecuniary and an esthetic point of view, bearing in mind, 
however, that profit comes first. 
