92 OUR FORESTS AND WOODLANDS 



the best quality and in the shortest space of time 

 by growing the oak trees as hedgerow timber, or 

 in parks, or as standard trees in copsewoods, 

 where they were allowed to have almost perfect 

 freedom to ramify according to their natural 

 habit when not limited with regard to growing- 

 space. 



The early perception that a certain limitation 

 in the space allowed for growth is essential for 

 securing a good long stem, thus foreshadowing 

 one of the leading principles in the modern 

 methods of Forestry, is clearly proved in the 

 following extract from Evelyn's Syha, which 

 at the same time indicates with equal distinct- 

 ness the generally approved and customary 

 system of growing oak so as to encourage the 

 formation of curved wood specially adapted for 

 naval purposes. ' Some advise/ he says, * that 

 in planting of Oaks, &c., four, or five be suffer'd 

 to stand very neer to one another, and then to 

 leave the most prosperous, when they find the 

 rest to disturb his growth ; but I conceive it 

 were better to plant them at such distances, as 

 they may least incommode one another : for 

 Timber-trees, I would have none neerer then 



