114 THE NATURE AND PRACTICE 



plantations at every stage of their growth ; but in 

 practice, the case is almost always the contrary. 

 No distinct practical rules being adhered to among 

 foresters as a body, one goes to work in one way, 

 and another in a contrary way, in the same piece 

 of work, and in the manner of doing the work all 

 depends upon the practical experience of the man. 

 A man of sound practical experience finds out for 

 himself what ought to be done, and guides himself 

 in the execution of his work accordingly; but the 

 man of small experience, unless he has some definite 

 rule laid down to guide him, will go to work merely 

 under the direction of his own judgment, whether 

 that may be right or wrong ; and if his master, the 

 proprietor, has not himself a knowledge of how the 

 work ought to be done, matters will often go very far 

 wrong indeed, even so much so, that often the greater 

 part of the plantations upon an estate, if not ruined, 

 are made of very little value indeed. We will very 

 frequently see plantations upon an estate over- 

 pruned, while those upon a neighbouring one are 

 not pruned at all, which at once points out the bad 

 management that exists relative to forest operations 

 in general. 



In one place where I acted as assistant forester, 

 I had a most convincing proof of the want of a 

 practical rule among foresters as a body, rela- 

 tive to pruning, and which told me at once that 

 they have hitherto acted in such matters more 



