

THINNING. 167 



are to be suffered to stand till the next, or 

 other subsequent revision. 



At what distance of time this revision 

 should take place, cannot well be previously 

 determined ; but it had better be too soon 

 than too late : from two to five years may, 

 perhaps, with propriety, be fixed as the ex- 

 tremes, which may be regulated by differ- 

 ence of situation, the state of health, or age 

 of the plantation in question. 



But one invariable rule ought to prevail 

 in all cases, and in all situations. Suffer 

 no plant to overtop or whip another ; keep 

 the extremities of all side branches just 

 touching one another; pay respect to the dis- 

 tance of the tops, not the roots of the trees : 

 for some kinds require more head-room than 

 others ; nor do all trees rise perpendicular, 

 even on level or sheltered ground, to their 

 roots. 



In respect of the final distance to which 

 trees, standing in a mixt plantation, should 

 be thimied, it is hardly possible to prescribe 

 rules : circumstances must determine. Whe- 

 ther they are to be suffered to stand till full 

 grown ; which kinds the soil seems best to 



M 



