Theory and Practice 115 



pear hard and artificial ; but when the trees begin to 

 require thinning, a few single trees or groups may be 

 brought forward. The precise period at which this may 

 be advisable must depend on the nature of the soil : but 

 so rich is the ground in which plantations were made at 

 Aston, about ten years since, that this management has 

 already been adopted with effect. 



Although it will again be repeated in the chapter 

 treating of fences, I must observe in this place that, 

 instead of protecting large plantations with hedges and 

 ditches, I have generally recommended a temporary 

 fence of posts and rails, or hurdles on the outside, and 

 either advise a hedge of thorns to be planted at eight 

 or ten yards distance from the outline, or rather that 

 the whole plantation be so filled with thorns and spinous 

 plants that the cattle may not penetrate far when the 

 temporary fences shall be removed, and thus may be 

 formed that beautiful and irregular outline so much 

 admired in the woods and thickets of a forest. 



