42 ANCIENT WOODS. 



Stubbing up rubbish, such as thorns, briers, 

 birch, and, in many places, hazel, is much to be 

 recommended, as by this means, light and air will 

 be admitted more freely, and the health of the 

 wood promoted, and, of course, its growth facili- 

 tated. It is perhaps just possible, that there may 

 be a few cases where the demand may be such 

 for birch, hazel, or alder, as to warrant a woodman 

 in keeping them as a part of his stock ; but I have 

 generally found, upon inquiry, that they have 

 fetched such a miserable price, as to yield very 

 little more than would pay expences. 



The absolute necessity of filling up with young 

 plants must be universally admitted, although in 

 practice, it is very rarely done, or, if done at all, 

 it is very generally so ill done, as to produce no 

 perceptible improvement in the stock. 



It too often happens that sufficient care is not 

 bestowed in selecting the plants. They are fre- 

 quently put in too small, and when they are long 

 enough, they are often deficient in thickness. All 

 plants put into old woods, should be of good size, 

 stiff, and well rooted. Again : it will be admitted, 

 that they are often planted in a most slovenly 



