383 



nically called "well set off," the aid of culture is not in every case to be 

 precluded, by a consideration of the general rule. That if trees be in 

 a soil and climate worse than those that are natural to them, then cul- 

 ture will be of some advantage ; as the extra increase of wood will be 

 of a quality not inferior to what in its natural state it would obtain ; 

 or, in other words, it will correspond witii that degree of quality and 

 quantity of timber, which the nature of the species admits of being 

 obtained : but culture, in this case, must be applied with cautious dis- 

 crimination, and a sound judgment. That, on the other hand, if trees 

 be in a better soil and climate than are natural to them, and, at the same 

 time, that the annual increase of wood be promoted by culture (as already 

 said), it will be a decided disadvantage, and deteriorate the wood. In 

 the same way, if trees be in their natural state, the annual increase of 

 timber, obtained by culture, will injure its quality, in a degree corres- 

 ponding with the increased quantity. 



Sixthly : That such appears to be a correct, though condensed view 

 of the operation of those general laws respecting growth, which govern 

 the whole vegetable kingdom, and especially their effects on woody 

 plants, and of the salutary restraints, which science dictates to be laid 

 on artificial culture, of which pruning, as well as manuring, forms a con- 

 stituent part, as has been explained above, at so much length. That it 

 is by a diligent study of the peculiar habits of trees, and the characters 

 of soils, illustrated and regulated by facts drawn from general experience, 

 that rash or ignorant systems of arboriculture are to be best corrected, 

 and science brought most beneficially to bear on general practice. 



If the foregoing propositions be fairly deduced, as I conceive them to 

 be, from facts, and be also consistent with phytological principles, it 

 follows, that the pitting system, as already practised by most nations 

 (but what Mr. Withers confusedly calls the Scotch method), if duly 

 regulated by science, must be the best system for the " Planting of Waste 

 Lands," or, in general, for large designs of wood, and especially for the 

 royal forests, where the quality of the timber is the main object. 

 That if the system of culture, by means of trenching and manuring, 

 were, as is proposed, to be universally introduced into those forests, it 

 would create a vast national loss, by deteriorating the value of this im- 

 portant part of the public property ; — although particular spots in these, 

 as in all extensive woodlands, might be advantageously managed by it, 

 under peculiar circumstances. 



Further, it follows, that Sir Walter Scott, in his able essay on the 

 "Planting of Waste Lands," has committed no "Fundamental Errors" 

 (as allege-d by Mr. Withers), by advocating the pitting system of plant- 



