ANCIENT WOODS. 47 



where, consequently, it will be more the object of 

 the woodman to improve by less extensive mea- 

 sures than would be adopted in such a case as the 

 one just referred to. It will mostly be best to 

 do this by pruning, stubbing, and planting always 

 supposing that an effectual drainage has been 

 secured and here I would remark, that whenever 

 planting is done in a wood, it should be as well 

 done as circumstances will possibly allow. Instead 

 of the "nick" system, or any similar plan, the 

 woodman should dig holes for the underwood in 

 the Autumn, and plant in February, or early in 

 March. For oak, he should dig a larger hole, in 

 the Autumn, give it a Summer fallow, and put 

 in a vigorous, stiff plant, the Autumn following, 

 or in the February next but one. If some such 

 plan as this were pursued, there is not much fear 

 but the plants would grow, and in this way woods 

 may be gradually brought into a prosperous state, 

 instead of their being, as they now are, in the 

 agregate, a comparatively valueless property to 

 their owners. 



I may here illustrate my view by a reference 

 to a particular case, which came under my pro- 



