PLANTING. 47 



same time, a scarcity of timber exists for the periodical wants of agricultural 

 and manufacturing operations, as for the various purposes of buildings, 

 implements of husbandry, fencing, poles, machinery, fuel, &c., planting is 

 of great importance and utility to the community*. In many cases, 

 where the soil is of greater value, the planting may be confined to the 

 angles of enclosures, and to hedge-rows. 



In this last case it may be necessary to observe, that the land of the 

 lowest comparative value for corn crops, and the most eligible for shelter 

 and shade where required, should be chosen for planting. 



When it happens that not all of these peculiarities of soil and site call 

 imperiously for planting, it is proper to consider whether the value of 

 timber or of coppice produce will not be greater from a given space of 

 ground than that of corn or grass. The rent of the land will assist in 

 determining the point, with the local demand for these crops. From 

 numerous estimates of the returns from woodlands, compared to those of 

 corn and pasture lands, under a variety of different circumstances, as to 

 market for the produce, soils, and situations, 10s. per acre, per annum, of 

 rent is considered the general maximum value of land, above which it ought 

 not to be planted, but retained in corn or grass, and all land which rents 

 under that value affords a very superior revenue under woods or plan- 

 tations. There are undoubtedly many local circumstances which make 

 exceptions to this rule ; as where timber is scarce, or where the demand for 

 certain kinds is unusually great, as in the neighbourhood of mines, hop- 

 plantations, &c. There are instances on record of produce of the value 

 of from 201. to 601. per acre, per jumnm, being afforded by woodlands ; 

 these, however, are extreme cases, and are here mentioned merely to show 

 that exceptions may occur to the above mentioned rule ; and that such 

 returns are greater than can be expected from any other kind of crop what- 

 ever, particularly considering that the cost of culture, as repairs of fences, 

 cutting down, and perhaps carting, is comparatively trifling to that of tillage 

 and manuring, which every other crop of value besides wood requires. 



It may be useful to take a more intimate view of the nature or compo- 

 sition of those varieties of soil which have now been alluded to. It is 

 proper, however, to observe, that the following statements of the nature 

 or constituents of these soils are not intended to convey the idea that 

 they are the best sorts respectively for the different kinds of forest-trees, 

 but principally to show that on such soils these trees have attained to 

 great perfection of growth. The soils were selected from the spots 

 where the trees mentioned in connexion with the soils were found by 

 the writer of this treatise, and the trees were, on an average, the finest 

 of the respective kinds which have come under his observation. 



* The plantations made by the present Duke of Bedford are highly worthy of notice 

 under this head of the subject, as being planned and executed in the most judicious 

 manner. A statement of the number of trees and quantity of ground planted by John, 

 Duke of Bedford, from the year 1802 to the present period, 1829 ; viz. 



Quantity of Ground. " Number of J 



A. R. P. Trees. 



Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire . 633 2 24 2,545,357 



Exclusive of 400 bushels of acorns 

 and other seeds dibbled in. 



A. R. P. Trees. 



Devonshire and Cornwall . . 819 2,859,754 



Huntingdon and Northamptonshire . 94 1 34 330,750 



Exclusive of 280 bushels of acorns 

 dibbled in. 



A. R. P. Trees. 



Total quantity of ground planted .1547 18 5,735,861 



Exclusive of 680 bushels of acorns, 

 and other seeds dibbled in. 



