Book II. SOILS FOR TREES. BJ3 



Chap. IX. 

 Plantations and IVoodlands. 



3936. Without trees, a landed estate may be very profitable, on account of its mines, 

 waters, and farm lands ; but it will be without the noblest characteristic of territorial 

 surface. It may possess the beauty of utility in a high degree, and especially to the 

 owner j but it will not be much adirnred by the public, nor contribute greatly to the 

 ornament of the country for what is a landscape without wood ? It is not meant, 

 however, that plantations of trees should be made on estates for the sake of ornament ; 

 on the contrary, none need ever be made which shall not be at the same time viseful, either 

 from the products of the trees individually, or their collective influence on surrounding 

 objects. 



.'5907. Trees have been planted and cherished in all counttnes, and from the earliest ages ; 

 but the fonnation of artificial plantations chiefly with a view to profit appears to have 

 been first practised in Britain, about the end of the sixteenth century, when the 

 insufficiency of the natural forests, which had hitherto supplied civilised society in Eng- 

 land with timber and fuel, rendered planting a matter of necessity and profit. In the 

 century succeeding, the improved practice of agriculture created a demand for hedges, 

 and strips for shelter ; and the fashion of removing from castles in towns and villages to 

 isolated dwellings surrounded by verdant scenery, led to the extensive employment of 

 trees both as objects of distinction and value. For these combined purposes, planting is 

 now universally practised on most descriptions of territorial surface, for objects principally 

 relating to utility ; and, in all parks and grounds surrounding country residences, for the 

 joint purposes of utility and beauty. Jt has often been suggested, that an agreement 

 might be made between landlord and tenant, under which it would be the tenant's interest 

 to plant trees upon suitable parts of his farm, of little value for other purposes, and to 

 protect them when planted. This would not only promote the interests of both, but add 

 much to the ornament of the country. We cannot but regret that some such plan is not 

 devised and generally adopted. 



.'3908. Woodlands are lands covered with wood by nature, and exist more or less on 

 most extensive estates. Sometimes it is found desirable partially or wholly to remove 

 them, and employ the soil in the growth of grass or corn ; at other times, their character 

 is changed by art, from coppice or fuel woods, consisting of growths cut down periodically, 

 to trees left to attain maturity for timber. 



.'3909. In our vieiv of the subject of trees, we shall include some remarks on improving 

 and managing woodlands, which might have been referred to the two following books ; 

 but, for the sake of unity, we prefer treating of every part of the subject together. The 

 ornamental part of planting we consider as wholly belonging to gardening, and indeed 

 the subject of timber trees may be considered as equally one of gardening and of agricul- 

 ture, being the link by which they are inseparably connected. For a more extended view 

 of the subject, therefore, we refer to our Enci/clop^edia of Gardening, and Enci/clojycedia 

 of Plants : in the former will be found all that relates to the culture of trees collectively ; 

 in the latter, all that relates to their botanical character, history, uses, height, native country, 

 and other subjects, with their individual propagation, soil, and culture. We shall here 

 confine ourselves to the soils and situations proper for planting, the trees suitable for 

 particular soils and situations, the operations of forming and managing artificial plant- 

 ations, and the management of natural woods. 



Sect. I. Soils and Situations which may be most profitably employed in Timber 



Plantation. 



5910. As a general principle of guidance in planting, it may be laid down, that lands fit 

 for the purposes of aration should not be covered with wood. Where particular pur- 

 poses are to be obtained, as shelter, fencing, connection, concealment, or some other 

 object, portions of such lands may require to be wooded ; but, in regard to profit, these 

 portions will generally be less productive than if they were kept under grass or corn. The 

 profits of planting do not depend on the absolute quantity of timber produced, but on 

 that quantity relatively to the value of the soil for agricultural purposes. Suppose a 

 piece of ground to let at 205- per acre, for pasture or aration, to be planted at an expense 

 of only 10/. per acre ; then, in order to return the rent, and 51. percent, for the money 

 expended, it ought to yield 30s. a year ; but as the returns are not yearly, but say at the 

 end of every fifteen years, when the whole may be cut down as a copse, then, the amount 

 of 30s. per annum, at 51. per cent, compound interest, being 32Z. 8s., every fall of copse 

 made at the interval of fifteen years ought to produce that sum per acre clear of all ex- 

 penses. Hence, with a view to profit from the fall of timber, or copse wood, no situation 

 capable of much agricultural improvement should be planted. 



