46 



That the good hushandry of timber is 

 an object o^ national, as well as individu- 

 al importance, cannot be doubted. The 

 ways in which it contributes to our com- 

 forts and convenience are so many, that 

 it would be equally impossible and use- 

 less to recount them. While considered 

 merely as an article of property, it is 

 difficult to say, what other species keeps 

 so constantly upon the advance, in va- 

 lue ; independent of the increase, in 

 quantity. Considered in another light, 

 trees give a particular sort of dignity, or 

 consequence to an estate ; such as are 

 well wooded rarely missing to find pur- 

 chasers : which proves that, as matter 

 of ornament, their value is incalculable. 

 A single tree may be highly valuable in 

 a threefold point of view, namely, for 

 skelter, ornament, and use. And it hap- 

 pens not unfrequently that, in particular 

 situations, its ideal may exceed its real 

 value, in a tenfold degree. In fact, taste, 

 which may be said to be founded only 



