Timber Tree Plantations at West Dean. 543 



difficulties into which we were plunged by interfering in their 

 concerns. Now, the question I would ask you, Sir, is this, 

 Have you been more fortunate in discovering the national 

 gratitude of Frenchmen ? Nor is the question foreign to our 

 subject ; for, if we find that we have burdened ourselves with 

 an intolerable load of taxation (the main cause of our present 

 distress) in order to settle the government of France, and have, 

 notwithstanding, failed in exciting any kind will thereby, would 

 it not be prudent to change our system entirely, and to dis- 

 miss all our expensive military establishments, to confine our- 

 selves to a strictly defensive plan for the future, and to leave, 

 other nations to choose what form of government they may 

 like best ? Among the expensive military establishments that 

 might be dismissed with advantage are those in most of our 

 foreign possessions ; as it might be proved that they have cost 

 more to conquer and maintain than the total amount of all the 

 extra-profit we derive from their commerce. France, deprived 

 of nearly all her foreign possessions, has within herself the 

 elements of mighty power ; and is, I conceive, much stronger 

 than if her population were taxed to maintain establishments 

 which possess little utility beside that of providing situations 

 for the younger sons of the aristocracy. 



I am, Sir, yours, &c. 

 Hampstead, March 2. 1830. R. Bakewele. 



Art. VI. On the Management of the Timber Tree Plantations at 

 West Dean, in Sussex. By Mr. John Bowers, Gardener and 

 Planter there. 



Sir, 



When you visited the West Dean Gardens, you appeared 

 much pleased with the thriving appearance of the young 

 plantations. As I attribute their luxuriancy in a great degree 

 to my method of management, perhaps a detail of the experi- 

 ment may be acceptable to some of your numerous readers. 

 The experience of" three years proves it to be both practicable 

 and advantageous. 



When the forest trees are from 4 to 5 ft. high, I commence 

 the winter pruning by taking off all the strong side shoots up 

 to the leader, and cutting them close to the bole of the tree. 

 I leave a few of the small weak shoots, at about 1 5 or 1 8 in. 

 apart, on all the forest trees (except the ash), from which they 

 are all removed ; I consider these to be of service in conduct- 

 ing the sap to the leading shoot. I prefer those shoots whose 



