May.1 WOODS AND COPSES* 401 



hardly fit for the fire ; while, by a moderate de- 

 gree of care, it may be turned to far more im- 

 portant ends. 



The firft thing neceffary to be confidered, is 

 the ftrength of the ftool to be thinned ; and, in 

 proportion. to this, to leave a greater or fmaller 

 number of moots upon it. The number to be 

 left may vary from one, to four or five. What- 

 ever number are to be left, they ought to be the 

 flraightefl and mod promifing moots, and as e- 

 qually difpofed around the ftool as poffible. 



The neceffity of retaining a fufficient number of 

 fhoots will appear obvious to every one. If a 

 number too fmall for conducting the whole flow 

 of juices from the roots upwards be left, thefe 

 juices will feek an outlet, by forming new moots 

 at the places from which their predeceffors were 

 removed ; by which means, the evil fought to be 

 prevented would be effectually continued. On 

 the other hand, if too great a "number be left, 

 they prevent the neceffary enlargement of the 

 principals, and become themfelves ftunted, hide- 

 bound, and dwarfifh. To guard againft running 

 into either of thefe extremes, is the bufmefs of the 

 forefter in the prefent cafe. 



Such of the young fhoots as it is neceffary to 

 remove, mould be flipped off by a wedge-fhaped 

 chifel, furnifhed with a handle three feet long. 

 Pufhing them off by the chifel as above, is by 

 far a better method than cutting them ; becaufe, 

 C c wherever 



