PLANTATIONS. 



differ from him ; nor do I conceive that the main 

 point, at which I have aimed in this publication, 

 will be at all affected by any concession which I 

 make to this effect : my principal object has been, 

 and will be, to show that, however clearly and 

 strongly may have been shown, the propriety of 

 acting in conformity with the principles of science, 

 in the original formation of Woods and Plantations, 

 in the planting of Hedge-row Timber, and in the 

 general management of them all, the practice of 

 "practical men" has been, "except as before ex- 

 cepted," so bad, that the most charitable conclusion 

 which can be drawn is, that they " thoroughly " 

 misunderstand almost every part of the subject ! 

 It seems rather to me, that instead of there being 

 only one point in their practice on which they 

 need enlightenment, that there is but one on which 

 they may be said to agree, and that is in a thorough 

 contempt for all rules, all principles, all science! 

 in other words, that this class of persons has dis- 

 played an amount of ignorance, (which, however, 

 has been more their misfortune than their fault,) 

 and the want of a proper apprehension of the 

 nature and extent of their obligations, and duties, 



