VUl PREFACE. 



noblemen and gentlemen shall become as truly prac- 

 tical foresters, as tliey now are practical farmers, 

 we cannot reasonably expect to see our home plan- 

 tations exhibit the extent and healthy develop- 

 ment which it is most desirable should characterise 

 them. I am anxious that the spirit of improve- 

 ment should be aroused among our landed proprie- 

 tors, relative to arboriculture : and at the same 

 time I am of opinion that it is necessary, in order 

 to the gaining of tliis end, that all proprietors 

 should be made acquainted with practical forestry, 

 and that upon the most improved principles. It is 

 with the hope of promoting such knowledge that 

 I am induced to publish the present work : and 

 I have been further encouraged in compiling it 

 by the fact that many extensive landed proprietors 

 in Scotland have invited me to visit their ])lan- 

 tations, and report upon them for their future 

 guidance ; and by my having constantly found the 

 gentlemen who have thus honoured me with their 

 patronage as a forester, most anxious to be made 

 accjuainted with the practical details of arboricul- 

 ture. I am therefore led to hope that this Httle 

 treatise may be both acceptable and of service to 



them. 



JAMES BROWN. 



Abniston, November 1847. 



