RECLAIMING PLANTATIONS, &C. 481 



even thefe with caution. If it be judged too much 

 for the firft operation to remove them entirely, 

 they may be mortened, to prevent the progrefs of 

 the competition ; and the remaining parts may be 

 removed in the following feafon ; at which time, 

 as often obferved, they muil be cut clofe by the 

 bole. 



RECLAIMING NEGLECTED PLANTATIONS FROM 

 TWENTY TO FORTY YEARS OF AGE. 



Plantations of the above age, which have never 

 been thinned, and which have grown well, and 

 are now become thickets, may (till be reclaimed, 

 although not without coniiderable difficulty. In 

 this cafe, the trees will be very tall and {lender, 

 and muft be expofed to a freer air than they have 

 lately enjoyed, with the utmoft caution; nor will 

 it be poflible to reduce the plantation into proper 

 order at the firiT:, or perhaps a fecond thinning. 



In the prefent cafe, it is probable that many of 

 the trees have gained an afcendancy over the reft, 

 Thefe, unlefs they are of bad kinds, mould be re- 

 garded as trees which, with the grtatefl probabili- 

 ty of fuccefs, may be trained into proper form, 

 For, fuch as have been overtopped in a perfect 

 thicket for years, will be rendered fo feeble, and 

 have fo few lide-branches, that they would neither 

 ^ able to fupport their own weight, were they 

 H h left 





