ARBORICULTURE IN HAMPSHIRE. 53 



factory than striving to accomplish two things at once. When 

 these are planted in favourable soils, and are afterwards thinned 

 and regulated as they require, there can be little doubt as to the 

 future results. The only cases where failure may be anticipated 

 are when by due care the crop has not been adapted to surround- 

 ing circumstances. This occasionally occurs in mixed plantations, 

 but more frequently where only one sort of tree is planted. The 

 reason is obvious. Where various trees are intermixed, those 

 that are misplaced can be removed in the usual course of thinning. 

 If the forester has discretion to remove the worst and all un- 

 healthy trees, those best suited to the soil and situation will soon 

 predominate, and a healthy crop be secured. This is the best way 

 of treating a plantation where trees have been planted in un- 

 genial positions. The time, however, is approaching when such 

 mistakes will be things of the past; when the ultimate result 

 of planting a piece of land will be so correctly ascertained, and so 

 clearly defined, that mistakes cannot occur ; when particular trees 

 will no longer be planted, because they are in demand, but because 

 they are specially adapted for the geological formation and soil ; 

 when every arboriculturist will be as conversant with the physio- 

 logy of trees, as the farmer is with the nature and habits of the 

 animals under his care ; and when practical foresters will be as 

 cheerfully and liberally rewarded as their abilities and superior 

 intelligence deserve. When this is the case, we will be able to 

 report more favourably on the present state of our woodland, and 

 the prospects of private properties will improve so rapidly that 

 employers will be amply repaid for any encouragement they give 

 to those in charge of their woods and plantations. 



