152 



add, that the process is quite as easy as to 

 form the worst figure that could be sketch- 

 ed; and what is more, we have abundant 

 reason to suppose, that the general weight 

 of a tree will increase faster in such form, 

 than any other. 



We know that, in the case of any speci- 

 fic manufacture, the man, who can make 

 the most and best work, of a given quan- 

 tity of the raw material, is justly esteem- 

 ed the best workman. Sap may here be 

 considered as that material. Nature fur- 

 nishes a certain quantity of the article, 

 which, without our assistance, operates 

 in producing either a tree or a bush; but, 

 in most cases, its form must depend upon 

 accidental circumstances. 



It has already been intimated, that the 

 natural form of trees is unfavourable to 

 the production of good timber, because 

 they produce branches as low as the head 

 of the first year's groAvth ; and they again 



