1 82 FOREST PLANTATIONS. {Jan. 



In order to prevent unneceffary repetitions, and 

 that the fubjecl may be the more clearly followed, 

 we fhall proceed, in the firft place, with the man* 

 ner of thinning mixed plantations. 



OF THINNING MIXED PLANTATIONS. 



Here the removing of the nurfes is the firft ob- 

 ject which generally claims attention. This, how- 

 ever, mould be cautioufly performed ; otherwife 

 the intention of nurfing might, after all, be thwart- 

 ed. If the fituation be much expofed, it will be 

 prudent to retain more nurfes, although the plan- 

 tation itfelf be rather crowded, than where the 

 fituation is flickered. In no cafe, however, mould 

 the nurfes be fuffered to overtop or whip the 

 plants intended for a timber crop ; and for this 

 reafon, in bleak fituations, and when perhaps par- 

 ticular nurfe-plants can hardly be fpared, it may 

 fometimes be neceflary to prune off the branches 

 from one fide entirely. At fubfequent thinnings, 

 fuch pruned or disfigured plants are firft to be 

 removed ; and then thofe which, from their fitua- 

 tion, may befl be difpenfed v/hh. 



At what period of the age of the plantation all 

 the nurfes are to be removed, cannot eafily be 

 determined ; and, indeed, if the nurfes chiefly 

 confift of Larches, it may with propriety be faid, 

 that they mould never be totally removed, while 



any 



