276 



striking point of view either their gratuitous malevolence, or 

 their extraordinary ignorance. 



The most distinct method, which, I apprehend, can be 

 adopted, to show the true amount of the expense attending 

 the various processes above described, in the preparation and 

 removal of woods, is, in the first place, to state the particulars, 

 in as far as they regard my own practice, which any one 

 may examine and verify at pleasure : and, in the second 

 place, to give a report of the operations of a few well-known 

 persons of the first respectability, who, on a conviction of its 

 correctness, have adopted my system, not gratuitously and 

 ignorantly, but with some knowledge of scientific principle. 

 For I will venture to assert, that no one ever yet adopted 

 this si/stem, ivith a knowledge of the princijyles on which 

 it is founded., whose pj'actice was not attended with siic- 

 cess. The general error committed by planters, is to con- 

 sider it too much as a mechanical art, and not to allow to 

 principles the just rank and consequence they deserve. 



In the first place, as to my own practice. It is obvious, 

 that there are two ways, in which rural labour is performed. 

 The one is by contract, according to specific rates, and 

 stipulated dimensions, which gives the cost in money, on 

 ascertaining the extent of the work. The other is by day- 

 labour, which gives it as certainly, by the rate of wages paid 

 to the workman, and an estimation of time. But wherever 

 much accuracy or nicety of execution is in question, experi- 

 ence will advise to follow the latter, rather than the former 

 method. In the preparation of the soil, however, and like- 

 wise the preparation of subjects, the work may be done 

 sufficiently well by contract ; which, on a large scale, and 

 with expert workmen, I have sometimes found it advisable 

 to adopt, both as most speedy, and most economical. 



As to work executed by contract; the mode of preparing 

 the pits for single trees, and open dispositions of wood, is 

 delineated at page 171, &c. If the soil be of tolerable 



