PLANTING AMONGST OTHER TREES. 17 



And as the necessity for the presence of the original 

 trees at all becomes yearly of less importance, they 

 must be progressively removed, leaving, of course, 

 those in the most exposed aspects till the last. 



Although the general appearance of the existing 

 wood may be unattractive, there is no reason why the 

 intended one should be also. Any desired effect may 

 be produced with facility. The proposed ultimate 

 results having been at first fully decided on, every 

 subsequent operation can be performed, every tree 

 placed or removed with reference to the accomplish- 

 ment of the intended effects. 



It has been observed above that the soil of woods is 

 generally favourable to the growth of young trees, 

 and that the yearly deposits of vegetable matter 

 constantly increase its fertility. In the majority 

 of instances it is so. But in others, not only are 

 there no such deposits, but the soil is excessively 

 poor and hard, and of such a nature, that, without a 

 considerable amelioration, it would be useless to 

 plant in it. 



It is beneath old trees, which have long since 

 exhausted the surface soil, and where there is no 

 undergrowth, that such circumstances occur. As there 

 is nothing to arrest the yearly fall of leaves, they are 

 blown away, and the deficiency of light and moisture 

 wholly prevents the establishment or progress of any 

 kind of vegetation. Yet under such circumstances we 

 have frequently seen plants stuck in it cannot be called 

 planting, and of course expected to succeed without 

 any one provision having been made that could, after 



