94 THE NATURE AND NECESSITY OF 



forms one of the most important points to be aimed 

 at by every practical forester. 



The object which ought to be aimed at by the 

 forester in the act of thinning, is the regulating of 

 the trees in a pUintation to such a distance one 

 from another, and that in such a manner as is, 

 from well observed facts, known to be favourable 

 to the health of each tree individually, as well as to 

 the general welfare of the whole as a plantation. 



In order to grow any plant to that size which 

 the species to which it belongs is known to attain 

 under favourable circumstances, it is necessary that 

 it have space of ground and air for the spread of 

 its roots and branches, proportionate to its size at 

 any given stage of its growth; and upon this the 

 whole nature and intention of tliinning plantations 

 rest. 



It is, in my opinion, much to be regretted that 

 there does not exist, both among proprietors and 

 foresters, a sounder knowledge relative to the 

 nature and intention of thinning plantations than 

 there is. I have frequently seen plantations upon 

 a high situation going back, from having been in- 

 judiciously thinned ; and in a low situation, I have 

 as often seen them going back from not having 

 been thinned at all : where the blame rested I know 

 not, neither is it my business to inquire into that, 

 but this I must say, that in all such cases there is 

 evidently bad management. 



