VOL. LI.l PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS, 3:^' 1 



and 10 feet in autumn 1758, pays above I84- per cent. Besides it should be 

 considered^ though he measured the largest and most thriving oak and Scotch 

 fir in 1743, yet several others of the same age, both oaks ahd Scotch firs, have 

 greatly exceeded the measured trees for many years past; e. g. the oak N° 11, 

 appears by the table 2 feet 8 inches 2-8ths in circumference; and another just 

 by it is 1 feet 1 1 inches 6-8ths ; and an oak transplanted from this grove, is 3 

 feet 9 inches 5-8ths round ; yet this last tree was considerably less than the first 

 when removed, and not planted in a better soil, and yet is I foot 1 inch 3-8ths 

 larger than the original tree. The first contained 4 feet 1 quarter 336 inches, 

 and gained 1 feet 3 quarters 220 inches in 16 years: the last contains 8 feet 3 

 quarters 68 inches; and, supposing them equal in 1743, gained 7 feet 384 

 inches ; i. e. above 24- the increase of the first tree. But notwithstanding the 

 transplanted oak was thus much larger than the original oaks in the grove, yet 

 as the transplanted tree does not run half the height of the trees in the grove 

 before it heads, they differ but little in their quantity of timber. 



The great Lord Bacon says, " the improvement of the ground is the most 

 natural way of obtaining riches." What great fortunes might be raised, by 

 those that have property, in the vast heaths and downs, or fields of poor land, 

 in this kingdom, by planting parts of them ? which would also add great beauty 

 to the country, and render the dwelling much more comfortable to the neigh- 

 bourhood, by the shade in summer, and warmth in winter. Some parts of 

 these great wastes^ would produce good oak ; and where the soil is moist, poplar, 

 alder, and other aquatics, would be very profitable to the planter. The chalky 

 soil seems the least promising ; yet beeches sometimes thrive well upon it. 

 The fir kind, especially the Scotch fir, will grow surprizingly on poor sandy 

 land ; but woods of fir should be guarded with an out-line of birch and beech, 

 to break the force of strong winds. Birch, being the quickest grower, will 

 best protect the young fir ; but as birch, after a few years, is easily blown 

 down, so beech will be wanted to defend the firs as they become large : for I 

 have seen broad glades made by the wind through great woods of fir in Switzer- 

 land : which, perhaps, might have been prevented, at least in part, by an out- 

 line of beech. 



I know some think, that poor land cannot produce large trees ; yet the oak 

 at Northall in Hertfordshire, whose beautiful head spreads a circle of above 40 

 yards diameter, stands on a dry and deep sand ; and the fine chestnuts and 

 beeches by Mr. Naylor's grand castle of Herst Monceiix in Sussex, grow in a 

 light sandy soil : and I have found, by experience, the Weymouth, Scotch, 

 spruce, and silver firs, which I planted in a poor sandy soil, are larger and finer 

 trees, than others set at the same time in much better land. Perhaps it may 

 require a rich clay to produce such trees as the noble grove of oak in the Earl of 



VOL. XI. T T 



