47 



upon the fashion of the day, in many 

 things, is always, in a great measure, sta- 

 tionary in regard to trees ; as we find very 

 few persons indeed who do not feel pleas- 

 ed with them ; many, it is true, without 

 knowing why ; and therefore we may 

 venture to assert, that taste, in this in- 

 stance, is founded upon reason and na- 

 ture. 



If such then be the uses and import- 

 ance of trees, surely their culture de- 

 serves our best attention. If, by expend- 

 ing a few pence, we could cause an oak 

 stump to produce more and better tim- 

 ber in twenty-five years, than it would 

 otherwise do in forty ; and if, by slight 

 attention, we could not only increase the 

 stature, but improve the form of trees in 

 general, and prevent the premature de- 

 cay of a great proportion of the finest 

 oaks in the kingdom, it would be ad- 

 mitted that some good was likely to 

 be done. 



