f INTRODUCTION. 



years, has unqueflionably led to many premature 

 falls, and has rendered fome proprietors lefs care- 

 ful of reserves or timber -stands, than might have 

 been prudent. This is the more to be regretted* 

 that, by a certain mode of management, # differ- 

 ent indeed from the common, an equal return of 

 bark might, hi moft cafes, have been obtained, 

 and the timberlings at the fame time fpared to> 

 grow to maturity, in due time, for the future in- 

 creafe of our trade, or the defence of our mores* 



It is a very important, and, in our opinion, a 

 demonftrable faft, that even in the natural woods 

 fcattered over many parts of the Scots Highlands, 

 there might be reared, with much expedition, an 

 immenfe fupply of capital (hip-timber- 



With refpeft to a proper fupply of timber for 

 the Britifh Navy, and the neglect of the Royal' 

 Forefts, there has been a continued hire and cry 

 for the last forty years ^ yet Government, till of 

 late, feems to have paid littl'e or no attention to> 

 the matter. Whether this indifference on the part 

 of Government has or has not had the good ef- 

 fect of making individuals turn their minds to the 

 fubjecl, and plant on their private properties, is 

 a point which remains doubtful with many. One 

 thing, however, we are very certain of, that, 

 within the period above mentioned, there have 



been 



* Described in a subsequent part of this volume, undes? 

 the head Woods and Copses for 'May. 



