568 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



districts in which fish pools are viewed as an object of rural economy. On every side 

 of the metropolis, something of this kind is observable. But it is on the south side, in 

 adjoining parts of Surrey and Sussex, where the practice of fish breeding may be said 

 to be established. There fish pools have been, and still are formed with the view of 

 letting them to dealers in carp and other pond fish ; or of stocking them, and disposing 

 of the produce, as an article of farm stock, as pigs, rabbits, poultry, or pigeons. In 

 a general view of the kingdom, fish pools can scarcely be considered as an object 

 worthy of consideration, in the improvement of landed estates. Yet there are situations, 

 in which they may be formed with profit : as in the dips and hollows of extremely bad 

 ground ; especially if waters, which are genial to any of the species of pond fish, 

 happen to pass through them, or can be profitably led to them. Even where the water, 

 which can be commanded, is of an inferior quality, a profitable breeding pool may be 

 formed, to stock ponds of a more fattening nature. 



3625. The craw-Jish, though most delicious eating and a native of England, neither 

 abounds in sufficient quantities to be brought to market nor is reared by individuals. It 

 requires warm rich marshy lands, and a calcareous soil. 



3626. The leech is an amphibious animal of the mollusca order, common about 

 some of the lakes in the north of England, as Keswick. Formerly considerable 

 quantities used to be picked up and sent to London, and other places ; but the market 

 is now chiefly supplied from the continent. 



Chap. IX. 

 Of Plantations and Woodlands. 



3627. Without trees, a landed estate may be very profitable on account of its mines, 

 waters, and farm lands ; but it will be without the noblest characteristic of territorial 

 surface. It may possess the beauty of utility in a high degree, and especially to the 

 owner ; but it will not be much admired by the public, nor contribute greatly to the 

 ornament of the country for what is a landscape without wood? It is not meant, 

 however, that plantations of trees should be made on estates for the sake of ornament ; 

 on the contrary, none need ever be made which shall not be at the same time useful, 

 either from the products of the trees individually, or their collective influence on sur- 

 rounding objects. 



3628. Trees have beenj^lanted and cherished in all countries, and from the earliest ages; 

 but the formation of artificial plantations chiefly with a view to profit, appears to have 

 been first practised, on a large scale, about the end of the sixteenth century, when the 

 insufficiency of the natural forests, which had hitherto supplied civilized society in Eng- 

 land with timber and fuel, rendered planting a matter of necessity and profit. In the 

 century succeeding, the improved practice of agriculture created a demand for hedges 

 and strips for shelter; and the fashion of removing from castles in towns and villages 

 to isolated dwellings surrounded by verdant scenery, led to the extensive employment of 

 trees both as objects of distinction and value. For these combined purposes, planting is 

 now universally practised on most descriptions of territorial surface, for objects prin- 

 cipally relating to utility, and in all parks and grounds surrounding country residences 

 for the joint purposes of utility and beauty. 



3629. Woodlands are lands covered with wood by nature, and exist more or less on 

 most extensive estates. Sometimes it is found desirable partially or wholly to remove 

 them, and employ the soil in the growth of grass or corn ; at other times their character 

 is changed by art, from coppice or fuel woods, consisting of growths cut down period- 

 ically, to trees left to attain maturity for timber. 



3630. In our view of the subject of trees, we shall include some remarks on improving 

 and managing woodlands, which might have been referred to tlie two following Books ; 

 but for the sake of unity we prefer treating of every part of the subject together. The 

 ornamental part of planting, we consider, as wholly belonging to gardening, and indeed 

 the entire subject of trees may be considered as equally one of gardening and of agricul- 

 ture, being the link by which they are inseparably connected. For a more extended 

 view of the subject, we refer to our Encyclopctdia of Gardening, and Encyclojytedia 

 of Plants : in the former will be found all that relates to the culture of trees collectively ; 

 in the latter, all that relates to their botanical character, history, uses, height, native 

 country, and other subjects, with their individual propagation, soil, and culture. We 

 shall here confine ourselves to the soils and situations proper for planting, the trees 

 suitable for particular soils and situations, the operations of forming and managing 

 artificial plantations, and the management of natural woods. 



