TO HIS GARDENER 93 



planted trees of which the sap rises early, and when they are 

 done they may begin with the Oaks and Ashes, and they won't 

 be the worse should the sneding of them continue till middle 

 of March. I therefore recommend the going presently over all 

 the firs and planted trees and then beginning to the Oaks and 

 Ashes, and as much depends upon taking things in a right 

 time and managing in proper time not beginning with what 

 may be done last. In this way a great deal more may be 

 done in a season than by considering of the best method of 

 doing most. Thinking is of more service in carrying on all 

 business than in our Country is commonly considered or 

 practiced. There is much in timeing of things to advance 

 them. I wrote at first to sned up all natural trees strongly 

 that ... or by the winds were in danger of hurting the tops 

 of thriving or promising planted trees. I hope they look above 

 them as they go along and do this carefully and that Chas^ 

 Bell does not trust entirely to them in all these things but 

 goes himself frequently and directs their doing right, and 

 when any thing is omitted or is wrong, he makes them go over 

 it again. All who know me may know that I hate half work, 

 and that I maintain that doing business completely, when we 

 are about any work is thrift. 



There is a great deal of writing above every word of which 

 might have been saved if Charles would think and mind what 

 he has heard in general upon planting, Sneding and other 

 business or upon the managing of this work in particular, when 

 I ordered it first. I had lately a Letter from Cha^ in which 

 he tells me of the mens' going on and that it looks well. 

 Can this be called a particular account ? No sure. He should 

 have given me his observations. For example. Such kinds do 

 better than others ; such end advances better, and there the 

 planted trees seem to have got strength in their roots and 

 make good Shoots ; Oaks, Ashes etc. are stunted and hide 

 bound not like to overtake the natural Wood and the like. 

 In order to my making some kind of guess in what condition 

 the wood is. If he observes as overly as he writes he had as 

 good stay within doors. 



I want to have some of the firs thinn'd out of the Wood at 

 the Town, to give air to the other trees and also where they 



