78 PLANTING. 



Andrew Knight, F.R.S., on this important subject is, that the toughest 



and most durable oak timber N obtained from trees of vigorous, rapid 



The property of quirk growth, in some species of trees, however, 



iil'iied to their earlier stages ; in others it is not developed until they 



years in the soil, and in several the rate of annual 



use of wood continues steady comparatively until the trees attain full 



maturity. 



The "locust-tree (Robinia pudida-acaria), for instance, will outstrip the 



in the lir>t ten jears of their growth by a rate of increase at least 



double that of the latter, but afterwards the oak will gain upon the locust, 



This ' .ipidly. and, contained, when taken down, one hundred and sixty cubic 



-in which No. 2 was cut grew in the same field, and believed 



11 planted at tin; saint- time. This tret- grow well, but not in any degree so fast 



. and contained about ninety cubic feet of timber. The age of the trees was 



hundred and twenty years growth. These specimens were forwarded by 



i.irlow, fur examination as to their comparative strength, and 



ilowing in: i :ained: 



No. 1. FAST (IKONS OAK, MANUKKD. 



! the Comparative 



Spoil r'u cr-^it). i'iJtl'. Broken with Mrcii-ih. 



GOGlbs. yjUlbs. 15611bs. 



No. 2, SLOW GUOWN OAK, NATURAL Sun,. 



835 >lbs. ( J431bs. 1473. 



The strengtli of the fast-grown oak timber is, therefore, in this instance, superior to that 

 of slower growth, as 1,') to 11 nearly. 



On these fads Mr. Withers observes, that 'the tree, which had no support but the 



natu: luced ninety feet of timber in one hundred and twenty years ; the other, 



who>- I continually nourished by manure, made one hundred and sixty feet in 



,init- period, being a difference of seventy feet. The manured tree made, on an 



: one-third of timber in each year. Estimating, therefore, according to 



that rate of increase, this tree was, fifty years ago, of equal si/.e, and of greater value, to the 



mini ,.t the time it was cut down. Mow, it' we reckon the value of the timber at 



only S/. a load, and allow compound interest for the iifty years, the difference of value 



manured and unmanured tree amounts to upwards of 1G5/. This,' continues 



Mr. V a the amount of prolit arising upon one tree ; let a calculation, founded 



such data, be applied to the millions of acres which might be covered with forest- 



: and then let laud-owners and statesmen reflect, whether our uini rnti(ri/ does not 



1 profitable employment for all the " surplus agricultural labourers.'" 



iiing and manuring, according to Mr. Withers' own experience, is stated 



to be as follows : 



l'i \MI.I. IN APRIL, IS'-'-l. /. *. (I. 



i marl, at Is. 3U 150 



Twenty ditto muck, 500 



Jung land 1 10 



planting 7 10 



T.,tal cost per acre 15 5 



The results afforded to Mr. Withers by the above preparation of the soil, and by subse- 

 quent culture of the surface of the soil, were such as to In- perfectly conclusive- in favour 

 .miring to hhn<j in unprepared soils. Mow making every rea- 

 the uncertainty of the two oaks last alluded to having been 

 ncunistaii particular, which influences and governs the 



. is already mentioned in Chapter II.,) 



except th.> liquid manure to the ti ..nd making a similar deduc- 



. t. iming m.imiie, and also that of the comparative rate of 



'!in the mode Mr. Withers recommends, or by the 



then; 'y or thirty years of their growth, there are 



';on nf this mode of planting all 



oils ;tes or in the royal forests. 



ase a ceitii :<ied, and it is then to be considered whether 



iinittd sp.K uhich a speedier 



and more 



valuable <, ':me, or by covering a 



of l.md with pluiits which will give iul'criyr rt'turns in a much longer 



