10 Ciiltit aiicn ff Grafs La nil. - Planting. Timber-Trees ,&amp;lt;$c. 



thinning, deviates as widely from the right path, as he who thins none at all.&quot; It 

 js therefore contended &quot;that thick rather than thin planting is the fufer (iJe to err 

 on. By which mode, alfo, there is a more equal crop on the ground, beeting or 

 filling up vacancies being much lefs neceffary.*&quot; 



Contrary to the common practice, it is fuppofed that thick planting is molt ne- 

 ccffbry where the plants are large ft, as the greateft number die in thefe cafes. 



In the Duke of Portland s plantations, where trees of various fizes are planted 

 in an irregular manner, the number upon an acre is ufually about two thoufand. 

 In refpect to the manner of fetting the trees in the plantations, it is probably 

 the bert method, except where vegetable crops are to be cultivated between, to 

 plant without any regular order, though the line or row manner is frequently prac- 

 tifed, as being the leaft troublefome and expenfive. 



There is another point to be regarded in the planting of timber-trees, which is, 

 that of the moft advantageous manner of intermixing the trees. Some have ad- 

 vifed the planting in groups, to prevent the fuppofed injury of trees of different 

 forts growing together : others, however, prefer the mixed method, not only as af 

 fording a better means of afcertaming what forts of timber-trees fucceed bcft, but 

 as enabling the planter to protect them more effectually. It has been fuggefted that 

 c it matters little whether we plant in diftinct groups, or in indifcriminate mixture ; 

 provided, in the latter cafe, we ultimately retain the moft profitable and flourim- 

 ing kinds only. For, with the provifo that moft of the kinds evidently adapted to 

 the foil and iituation be planted according to the mode of thick planting, a fuffi- 

 ciency of them will remain, after all others are thinned away, for a full and final 

 crop. For inftance: if it mould be fuppofed that the foil is beft adapted to the 

 oak ; that it is defirable to raife the moft valuable kinds rather than the decorative j 

 and that, exclufiveof the larch for nurfes, and a few firs to enliven the borders, fix 

 kinds are to compofe the mixture ; plant two oaks for one elm, two elms for one 

 beech, two beeches for one afh, two afhes for one birch, and two birches for one 

 fycamore. And thus will the plantation at once be formed, in uniform gradation, of 

 kinds moft likely to fucceed each other, in the cafe of either difagreeing with the 

 foil or climate ; and which alfo fucceed each other in refpect of value as timber ; 

 doing juftice, at leaft, to the patriotic intention of the planter, mould the firft and 

 more valuable kinds fail.f 7 



* Nicol on Planting. t Ibid. 



