YOUNG TREES, ETC. 45 



fectly acquainted with the natural habits, constitu- 

 tion, and pecuharities of every tree that he attempts 

 to cultivate ; for if he is not so, the ultimate result 

 of liis work must in a great measure be left 

 to chance. I by no means wish to say any thing 

 lightly of the quahfications of foresters; but, at 

 the same time, I feel in duty bound to say the 

 truth, and that is, that taking foresters as a body of 

 men, there is extremely little of useful practical 

 information among them ; and in order to prove the 

 truth of this assertion, I may say, that foresters 

 in general are not so able to cultivate the trees 

 which grow under their notice, upon natural prin- 

 ciples, as we find gardeners do the plants under 

 their notice. And, admitting this, what is the reason 

 of such a deficiency in their professional character ? 

 So far as I have been able to trace the cause of this 

 defect among my brethren, I am led to think, that 

 it is the want of having proper sources of infor- 

 mation upon their business. Gardeners have been 

 assisted by the advice of many able and scientific 

 men, who have written much for their instruction ; 

 while the forester has had very little indeed written 

 for his information. It has often been observed, 

 that gardeners make better farmers and foresters 

 than any other class of men; and it is the truth; 

 but the reason is, that they have, or rather are 

 obhged to have, a closer acquaintance with the 

 nature of plants than any other class of men. A 



