CruicIcskanPs Practical Planter. 449 



or no attention to rear it to perfection. To fence a piece of 

 ground, and merely to " stick in the trees," are, too frequently, 

 all that are thought necessary. Hence the miserable appear- 

 ance of many woods and plantations in the kingdom ; and 

 sometimes the opinion that planting is an unprofitable under- 

 taking. 



o 



Were the subject more generally understood, and the most 

 judicious schemes acted on, it is easy to anticipate the improved 

 appearance, and increased value, of many neglected districts 

 of the country; for there is hardly a vacant corner, or a 

 heathjr waste, which will not produce valuable crops of trees 

 of one kind or other. One can hardly think of a more extra- 

 vagant or a less rational scheme, than planting the same kinds 

 of trees in every variety of soil and situation ; yet we find 

 writers of professed experience recommending the larch and 

 oak to be planted universally. Indeed, the chief part of the 

 art lies in adapting the kinds of trees to the quality of the soil 

 and the peculiarity of the situation. § 



Perhaps at no former period of our history has the subject 

 of plantation been more anxiously discussed than of late years. 

 Some of the authors are persons of rank and title, and some 

 are professional ; but it is matter of regret that conflicting 

 schemes have been advocated, and experience has been made 

 to support directly opposite principles. 



A number of authors have recommended raising the oak 

 from the acorn, without transplanting; while others have 

 maintained that the only way to obtain a thriving oak wood 

 is, by using stout plants, several years old, from the nursery. 

 Both these classes have advised their oaks to be from 10 to 

 7 ft. apart, that the land might be sufficiently stocked for a 

 full crop. Another, though not a numerous, class, have 

 talked of a much smaller number — 1 7 to an acre ! These, 

 however, they propose to increase, as may be required, merely 

 by layering ! 



But most writers agree on the advantages of pretty close 

 planting, and gradual thinning. There are some who main- 

 tain that there is only one sort of Scotch pine indigenous to 

 North Britain ; and affirm that Scotch nurserymen brought a 

 spurious variety from Canada, not more than fifty years since, 

 which now pervades the whole kingdom ! others consider the 

 whole of that story without foundation. Some recommend 

 carefully cutting off the snags and dying branches from the 

 boles of all the trees of the pine and fir tribes ; while others 

 condemn all pruning of pines and firs as certain destruction 

 to the trees. Some will have their hard-wood trees pruned 

 up with a clean stem, and a bushy head ; others wish the boles 



Vol. VI. — No 27. g g 



