492 Of Plantations. 



been tried in Sussex with success. After having produced 

 for many years, so exhausting a crop as furze, the land is 

 not fit for arable crops. The vacant places are, therefore, 

 planted, principally with ash, and the furze cut out as the 

 trees increase. Being found of little value for lime-kilns, 

 the furze is spread out and burnt on land prepared for tur- 

 nips, and the result is highly satisfactory, yielding excellent 

 crops of turnips, without any other manure ( 6o ). 



On the Management of Mixed Woods. 



Prejudices are entertained, against the mixture of diffe- 

 rent kinds of trees in the same plantation ; but it certainly 

 contributes highly to ornament, affording an endless variety 

 of shade and colour ; and is necessary, to afford the protec- 

 tion and shelter of the quicker growing, and hardier trees, 

 to those which are more tender, and of slower growth. 



It is evident however, that where a great variety of trees 

 are planted, they will be more difficult to manage, than 

 where they are all of the same sort. 



The following observations on that subject, coming from 

 so superior a planter as Mr Blaikie, merits peculiar atten- 

 tion. 



The oak ought to be the basis of all plantations in this 

 country, wherever it is likely to thrive ; but as it is some- 

 times difficult to ascertain, whether the soil and situation 

 are calculated for that tree, it is advisable, in all cases 

 where a mixture of forest trees are planted, to have, besides 

 hasel, and other underwood, not less than 300 oak plants 

 per acre, intermixed with other timber trees. When 

 the other varieties of trees are found to thrive better than 

 oaks, in such mixed woods, the most unthrifty oaks should 

 be cut off, close to the ground, when their stubs will pro- 

 duce good underwood. Ash, elm, and sweet chestnuts 

 should also be raised in such plantations much thicker than 

 is required to stand for timber, and after being thinned, 

 their stubs produce abundance of underwood. The finest 

 shoots should be selected, to stand for saplings or waivers, 

 to supply any deficiencies in the timber trees which may 

 occur. In a few years, timber tree seedlings, particularly 

 ash, will rise abundantly among the underwood. Those 

 seedlings should be selected as waivers, in preference to 

 stub shoots. By those means, mixed woods become well 

 stocked both with timber trees, and underwood of various 

 ages, and of the most profitable description. Woods so 



