143 



It is obvious, liowevcr, in llie department under consider 

 ation, tliat to transplant at all, we must have subjects. At 

 a place of any extent, tolerable subjects are never wanting ; 

 although they must abound or be deficient, according to the 

 diligence of culture, especially in respect to thinning, with 

 which the woods and plantations have been treated. Yet it 

 must not be imagined, that, at places of small extent, sub- 

 jects are not likewise to be found. At such, the current of 

 the prevailing winds is always less broken, and the climate 

 less improved, than under the shelter of broad and extensive 

 masses of wood. Other things, therefore, being equal, there 

 will probably be more and better subjects at small, or middle- 

 sized places, than at great, that is, in proportion to the size 

 of the masses, from which they are taken. But it should 

 be remembered, that at both they may often be invisible to 

 the eyes of the owners. 



Woods are planted for two main purposes, utility and 

 ornament, with both of which shelter is obviously combined. 

 In woods planted for utility, the greatest elongation of the 

 stems of trees is required ; and close-planting, pruning, and 

 other means are employed, to obtain what is considered as 

 the greatest possible " weight of wood." In plantations, 

 raised for beauty or shelter, such as in parks and pleasure- 

 grounds, the planter's object is, to prevent an undue elonga- 

 tion of the stems, unless for particular purposes, and to pro- 

 mote an expansion of the tops of trees, so as to enable them 

 to develop themselves, m their just and natural proportions. 

 It is almost needless to observe, that it is from woods or plan- 

 tations of the last mentioned description, that the selection 

 of subjects is for the most part to be made. If made judi- 

 ciously, it will furnish, without doubt, the best practical illus- 

 tration of the principles held forth, and the theory attempted 

 to be established, in the two foregoing sections. 



Before proceeding to deliver any specific rules on this 

 important topic, perhaps the best way will be, to attempt an 



