ON THE CULTIVATION OP TREES. 313 



Caroline. The former must surely be the best mode ; 

 for it seems mere waste to cut down the young trees be- 

 fore they are large enough to be of use. 



Mrs. B. It is difficult to fell the large trees without 

 injuring the small ones. They are deprived of the shade 

 and shelter of the large trees, and their roots are often 

 deranged and their branches broken by the fall of their 

 protectors. When forests are felled completely, it is done 

 at regular periods, which are determined either by the 

 nature of the wood or the purpose for which it is intend- 

 ed. For the ordinary consumption of fuel, it is usually 

 cut down every twenty years. When the trees have at- 

 tained a sufficient size for fire-wood, and in countries 

 where wood is the only fuel, this is the principal object 

 in view. This is generally the case in most parts of 

 the world. Our island, where coal is so commonly 

 burnt, forms an exception. We devote much less 

 time to planting, because we derive our fuel from the 

 bowels, rather than from the surface, of the earth ; and 

 our woods are raised chiefly to produce timber for build- 

 ing : but the taille regie is generally adopted on the Con- 

 tinent. It admits, however, of some modification : in- 

 stead of cutting down the large trees, and leaving the 

 young ones to grow up, the young trees are cut down 

 generally about the age of twenty years ; with the excep- 

 tion of the finest plants, which are reserved for the next 

 periodical felling. These trees are called standards or 

 standers. The young trees are cut up into faggots for 

 burning, and into props to support vines : their stumps 

 quickly send forth new shoots, which at the end of anoth- 

 er twenty years are fit to be cut down for the same pur- 

 pose. The greater number of the standards are then 

 felled, having acquired dimensions which enable them to 

 be cut into logs for fire-wood. The standards which es- 

 cape the second felling, in France, assume the name of 

 surtaillis: if reserved a third time, they are called sur 

 ecorce ; and should they be so fortunate as to survive the 

 fourth felling, they become timber. 



Emily. I really quite tremble for the reserved trees 



1690. What is said of the former method! 1691. And of the latterl 

 1692. Why do the English pay but little attention to the planting of 

 trees for fuell 1693. When, on the continent, are the younger trees 

 cut down 1 ? 1694. What are called slanders'? 1695. By what 

 names are trees called in France if they escape the second and third fellingl 



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