58] A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



Broughton's), abound with plantations, clumps, and particularly fine 

 sycamores, with a fine promising spring coppice of oak. Hilton 

 Park (Mr. Vernon's), contains some very fine ripe oaks, and other 

 timber trees ; and a great extent of modern plantation by the late 

 Mr. Vernon, who was a very early and persevering planter: a great 

 many trees of his planting are now fast approaching to maturity. 

 To these may be added, the fine and extensive plantations of oak 

 and other forest-trees at Trentham (the Marquis of Stafford's), and 

 at Whitmore (Mr. Mainwaring's). 



Many other estates are extremely well timbered, and the county 

 is not likely to experience a scarcity of that article for ages to come. 

 The estate of Richard Fryer, Esq. at the Wergs, Tettenhall, 

 amongst plenty of various sorts of well-grown trees, contains two 

 of the finest oaks in the county, perfectly sound, and at full ma- 

 turity ; they contain, it is conjectured, near 300 feet of timber, and 

 from one to two tons of bark each. 



We shall here make two observations on planting trees ; the one 

 on the proper site of ground for plantations, the other on the sorts 

 of timber, respecting pleasure, profit, and utility. 



With respect to the proper site of ground, every land-owner of 

 prudence and taste, who resides on his property, will furnish him- 

 self with shelter and shade near his habitation, in such situations as 

 local circumstances shall direct ; but large plantations should not 

 be made on good land, of much more value in this county for 

 corn or pasture ; but always (where such abounds), upon land im- 

 practicable to the plough, upon precipices, sides of hills, or in 

 dingles, where the land unplanted is of little value. Plantations 

 upon this systeni have been made by the late John Holliday, Esq. to 

 a great extent. The Dilhorn woods form a chain of three or four 

 miles in length, and those of Kingsley and Oakamoor, are upon 

 steep uneven hills : the underwood will bear cutting every seven 

 years for cratewood, and pay near <!. per acre annually, whilst 

 large tracts of similar land unplanted are not worth one-fourth of 

 that value. 



Respecting the species of wood, oak is undoubtedly the first 

 forest tree, and its acorn is valuable hog-food ; but being slow of 

 growth, the profit lies back. It should always be plentifully inter- 

 mixed with other sorts, whose place it may supply when they are 

 cut for use. Ash is valuable for many uses, but not very quick of 

 growth, and its fruit is of no value ; it should be planted in corners, 

 or dingles, or coppices, and not in hedge-rows, where it is very in- 



