12 



To suppose, that, when a tree is esta- 

 blished in the ground, the planter's care 

 is ended, is an error equally common and 

 pernicious ; for it ought never to be for- 

 gotten, that a man may understand the 

 planting of a tree, while he is totally ig- 

 norant of its culturt ; though both are 

 essential to the planter's ultimate suc- 

 cess. Indeed the former may now be 

 said to be, in some degree, common ; — 

 every gardener knows something of it, 

 and every planter more ; — it is also found 

 diffused in books, so far, as he that reads 

 with attention, may be able to practise 

 with some tolerable deo;ree of success. 

 But is that the case with the latter ? — I ap- 

 prehend not. Hence the necessity of in- 

 vestigating the subject ; when it will pro- 

 bably appear, that the scarcity of such 

 knowledge is, in a considerable degree, 

 the true cause of the scarcity of timber. 

 Certain it is, that nature has been abun- 

 dantly bountiful to us, in regard to the 

 production of Trees ; and our v>^ants 



