Theory and Practice 125 



not sorry to have discovered some arguments in favour 

 of my system, of more weight, perhaps, than those which 

 relate to mere taste and beauty : these I shall beg leave 

 to mention, not as the foundation on which my opinion 

 is built, but as collateral props to satisfy those who re- 

 quire such support. 1st. When two or more trees have 

 long grown very near each other, the branches form 

 themselves into one mass, or head ; and if any part be 

 removed, the remaining trees will be more exposed to 

 the power of the wind, by being heavier on one side, 

 having lost their balance. 2d. If trees have long grown 

 very near together, it will be impossible to take up the 

 roots of one without injuring those of another. And 

 lastly, although trees at equal distances may grow more 

 erect and furnish planks for the use of the navy, yet 

 not less valuable to the shipbuilder are those naturally 

 crooked branches, or knees, which support the decks 

 or form the ribs, and which are always most likely to be 

 produced from the outside trees of woods or the fan- 

 tastic forms which arise from two or more trees having 

 grown very near each other in the same wood, or in 

 hedge-rows. It is therefore not inconsistent with the 

 considerations of profit as well as picturesque effect to 

 plant or to leave trees very near each other, and not 

 to thin them in the usual manner without caution. 



In some places belonging to ancient noble families, it 

 is not uncommon to see woods of vast extent intersected 

 by vistas and glades in many directions ; this is particu- 

 larly the case at Burley and at Cashiobury. It is the 

 property of a straight glade or vista to lead the eye to 

 the extremity of a wood, without attracting the attention 

 to its depth. 



I have occasionally been required to fell great quan- 

 tities of timber, from other motives than merely to 



