JanJ] THINNING. 185 



In the firft cafe, it ihould be kept rather thick 

 than otherwise, in its early ftage of growth, that 

 the plants may as it were nurfe one another. 

 But when the trees have arrived at the height of 

 fifteen or twenty feet, due attention (hould be 

 paid to regular thinning, that the trees may not 

 be rendered unfit for any ufeful purpofe to which 

 they might otherwife be applicable. 



In the fecond cafe, the treatment is fimilar to 

 that of mixed plantations until the nurfes are re- 

 moved ; with this difference, that the plants which 

 are ultimately to form the group muft, from the 

 beginning, be regarded as the prime object ; and 

 the nurfes, of whatfoever kinds they be, muft be 

 viewed merely as the means of bringing forward 

 the principals, and be removed as occafion may 

 require. After the removal of the nurfes, group, 

 ed plantations of Oak, Elm, Beech, &c. are to 

 be thinned according to the rules already lay 

 down. 



OF THINNING FIR PLANTATIONS. 



Plantations of Scots Fir, if the plants have been 

 put in at three, or three and a half feet apart, will 

 require no care until the trees be ten or twelve 

 feet high. It is neceffary to keep fuch plantations 

 thick in the early ftages of their growth, in order 

 that the trees may tower the rafter, and pufh 

 fewer and weaker fide branches. Indeed, a fir 



or 



