4-2 Withers on Plaiiting. 



fnrzc, constantly destroying the trees — money expended by wholesale in 

 yearly cutting or heating down this grass and rubbish — and finally, in 1821, 

 four years after the hist of the enclosures was completed according to con- 

 tract, and twelve years after the first of them had been begun, we see, that 

 instead of yielding a profit, as ought to have been the case, nearly three 

 million trees were then wanted, and were actually used, in filling up the 

 vacancies in this forest " — (p. 28.) 



A variety of other statements and reasonings are given, which prove the 

 bungling way in which planting is performed in the national forests, and the 

 advantages which result from duly preparing the soil, and attending to keep- 

 ing the ground clear of weeds afterwards, till the branches of the trees 

 cover the surface. 



There is one point on which we, and every planter of general experi- 

 ence, will differ from Mr. Withers. Mr. Withers is of opinion that where 

 a proprietor has extensive tracts of waste land, he ought to plant no more 

 of it than he can do effectually, (p. 74.) If Mr. Withers were in possession 

 of a moor or mountain of 1000 acres, and had no more than lOO/. to spare 

 for planting it, he would only attempt 10 or 12 acres of the best soil and 

 in the best situation ; and he would give as a reason for so doing, that he 

 would sooner have his lOOZ. returned from these 10 acres than he could 

 from the 1000 acres. In this we should say he was correct; but that cir- 

 cumstance would not hinder us from attempting the whole 1000 acres with 

 the 100/. (enclosing being supposed out of the calculation in both cases), 

 because, after 20 or 30 years, notwithstanding the truth of all that Mr. 

 Withers has stated, we know that we should have 1000 acres of wood of 

 some sort ; and, under certain circumstances of soil and situation, for in- 

 stance, thin moory soil, or a steep surface liable to be washed away by rain, 

 we should have nearly, or whoU}', as valuable a plantation without prepar- 

 ation as if the soil had been prepared ! We should, in the case of such soils 

 and surfaces, not plant at all, but sow tree seeds. The sorts we should make 

 choice of would be the indigenous species of — 1 , Birch, Round-leaved Wil- 

 low, Poplar, Alder; 2. Bird-cherry, Elder, Dogwood, Wayfaring Tree, Moun- 

 tain Ash, White Beam ; .5. Crab, Thorn, Pear, Cherry, Holly; and, 4. Ash, 

 Maple, and, in general, as many tree seeds, both of the coniferous and leafy 

 kinds, as we could get cheap. The first division we would mix together, and 

 sow over the whole at the rate of a pound an acre ; the second assortment 

 we would sow over the whole at the rate of two pounds an acre; and the 

 other assortments at the rate of half a pound an acre. The time might be 

 January or the beginning of February; and, on the supposition that all cattle 

 and sheep were carefully excluded, we feel confident that in a ^ew years the 

 surface would be covered with wood of some sort, most probably of the 

 sorts' best suited for the soil. Now, what we maintain is, that in Scotland 

 and Ireland, and in many parts of Wales and the north of England, 1000 

 acres of wood of any sort confers more value on an extensive territorial 

 surface than the most thriving plantation of a few acres, however profitable 

 the latter might be when taken by itself. In estimating the value of Mr. 

 Withers's system, therefore, it is necessary to take this view of the subject 

 into consideration ; for a plantation may yield no profit for many years, 

 and jet add greatly to the value of the estate, by its effect in an orna- 

 mental or ideal point of view, by its shelter for game, singing birds, &c., 

 and by its ultimately forming a nucleus for raising the more valuable timber 

 trees. 



Supposing 1000 acres sown as we have recommended, and none of the 

 trees to have come up but the Birch, Round-leaved Willow, Bird-cherry, and 

 Elder, (trees that, we will venture to say, will, in Britain, rise from seed 

 thrown upon an unprepared svu'face, under any circumstances of soil or situ- 

 ation, not wholly marsh, drift sand, saline, or 2000 ft. above the level of the 



