SECT. X. OF FOREST TP^EES. 121 



it be properly drained, for none but aquatics can do 

 well in a cold and very moist soil. 



In open planting for timber, to make only the holes 

 good where the trees are set, is sufficient, if the soil 

 is not strong, (which generally speaking however it 

 should be,) and in such plantations the plough being 

 used for corn, or some sort of crop to be carried off, 

 the whole soil will be prepared for the roots to spread. 

 A plantation of this sort may be constantly under 

 the plough, till the trees shade too much, ,and then 

 it may be sown down for grass, which laying warm, 

 and coming early, would be found useful. The op- 

 portunity given to improve a soil by this cultivation, 

 would insure very fine timber. 



But a plan fat ion of trees being made (as suppose 

 of oaks) at due distances, and the ground ploughed 

 for three or four years, while they got a little a-head, 

 then it might be sown profitably, with nuts, keys 

 and seeds for underwood, observing to thin the plants 

 the second year of growth, and again the third, till 

 two or three feet asunder, as the ground is poor or 

 rich. In fourteen or fifteen years, (or much sooner 

 for some purposes), the ash poles, &c. will be fine, 

 and meet with a ready sale as useful stuff: After- 

 wards the underwood will be fit to cut, in a strong 

 state, every eleven or twelve years. In the manage- 

 ment of underwood, some have thinned, the plants 

 while young, to three feet asunder, and cut them 

 down at three years, to about six inches, in order to 

 form stools, which in about ten years are cut, having 

 produced several stems from each. Some persons 

 have cut seedling trees down at this age to three 

 inches to remain for timber, leaving only one strong 

 shoot on each stool ; and thus finer trees are fre- 

 quently (or rather certainly) produced, tkau from 

 seedlings not cut down. 



The distances of the timber plants, may be from 



