130 THE REARING OF 



all depending upon the elevation of the sitnation, 

 and the nature of the subsoil, whether that may be 

 open or retentive, dry or damp. Therefore it is, 

 that observation upon the spot is the only decisive 

 way of ascertaining when a plantation is in want of 

 being thinned. 



For the guidance of those who may not have had 

 much experience in the thinning of plantations, I 

 shall here lay down a few hints of practical utility, 

 from which, I am certain, a cautious, intelligent 

 man may be enabled to lay the foundation of 

 future experience in this art. In examining the 

 state of a young fir plantation with the view of 

 ascertaining if it be in a condition so far advanced 

 as to admit of being thinned, it will be necessary 

 first to walk very carefully through its whole ex- 

 tent, and mark well the bearing that the young 

 trees have one upon another. If the points of 

 the branches of the young trees be merely touch- 

 ing, or slightly interfering with one another, thin- 

 ning would be premature, and ought to be put off 

 for a year or two longer ; but if, upon examina- 

 tion, the lower side branches of the trees have the 

 appearance of having been considerably stunted in 

 their growth, and are actually becoming deadened 

 in the extremities from the want of freedom and 

 air, and if the higher side branches of one tree are 

 spreading widely, and actually encroaching about 

 half their length upon those of another, it is high 



