384 



inp, but that such errors most obviously have been committed by Mt^ 

 Withers himself: tliat he has done this, by endeavouring to give general 

 and indiscriminate currency to a system, which, how excellent soever 

 for many purposes, cannot, any more than other systems of arboricul- 

 ture, be properly practised, unless under the co7itrol of science. 



For these, and other reasons that could be given, if room permitted 

 here, I would hiunbly offer it as my opinion, to his Majesty's Commis- 

 sioners of Woods and Forests, that the system of trenching and ma- 

 nuring could not be introduced into the royal forests, ivith safety to the 

 quality of British oak, which it has been the pride of this country to 

 raise, in such unrivalled perfection. I should, therefore, with great 

 deference recommend it to them, to persevere in the same steady and 

 judicious course of management, which they have been for some time 

 pursuing. In this view, I should wish to see them employ, for the 

 operative part, none but the most experienced foresters that can be had, 

 whether in our own country, or in Germany, where the management of 

 woods is better understood ; and to procure, if possible, for the superior 

 departments, superintendents, who are not mere gardeners, like Mr. 

 Billington and others, but who, to a thorough knowledge of planting, as 

 practised in the best districts, unite some pretensions to phytologiceil 

 intelligence. Mr. Withers has talked of a parliamentary inquiry, and 

 even expressed an anxious desire for it. Let himself or his friends come 

 forward with it when they please. The more that management like the 

 above is investigated, the more it will merit the thanks of the country. 



In respect to Mr. Withers's first pamphlet, I have already expressed 

 the opinion which I entertain of its merit. It is impossible for me not 

 to respect the ardent mind, and active industry of a writer, who is a 

 fellow -labourer with myself, in the uphill work of improving British ar- 

 boriculture. Although we differ on some points, yet I am certain that 

 he will now agree with me, as to the low, or at least the unsettled state 

 of our knowledge in the art of planting on scientific principles ; of 

 which a better example cannot be given, than that, in 1825, Mr. William 

 Billington published an account of his own, and Messrs Driver's bun- 

 gling operations in planting the Forest of Dean ; and that three years 

 after, namely, in 1828, as a remedy for those evils, and in order to raise 

 the most durable Oak for " future natives," Mr. Withers himself brought 

 forth his recipe of high cultivation and manuring of the soil. It is fur- 

 ther worthy of remark, that in the numerous and excellent communica- 

 tions received by him (as appears by his book) on the same subject, 

 from planters certainly of judgment and experience, not one of them, 

 Mr. Cuthbert Wm. Johnson excepted, appears to be a man of science. 



