PREFACE. 



In writing a book, of however humble pretensions, it 

 is expected that the Author should be able at least to 

 say why he does so, since the world is already full of 

 books, and the time for their perusal so limited. To 

 repeat what has already been stated is to trifle with 

 time ; to state what is true, but not new, is to trifle 

 with one's self; and to set forth statements that are 

 new, but not true, is to attempt to impose upon others, 

 which no one has any right to do. 



The Author of the present work makes no preten- 

 sions to literature, neither to genius nor discovery ; 

 but after fully thirty years extensive forest practice 

 — although he does not flatter himself that he has 

 learned all that is to be learned upon the subject, 

 " The Larch " — he yet hopes that he has accumulated 

 sufficient information to justify him in this under- 

 taking. 



The book is the legitimate product of many years' 

 labour and investigation, and, as far as the Author is 

 aware, it is the only treatise on the subject by a prac- 



