Ret?'Ospectwe Criticism. 291 



nothing, if he would only be at the expense of peeling it, which would be but 

 trifling, as the bark in the present instance was derived entirely from the 

 trunks of the larches. The larches were accordingly stripped at the tanner's 

 expense ; but, when the bark was fit to carry, the tanner, repenting of his bar- 

 gain, to my no small disappointment, declined taking it home, and actually 

 left it on the ground, though his team was sent to the very spot for a 

 quantity of oak bark which he had purchased from the same plantation. I 

 like to see every thing made available to some useful purpose ; and shall be 

 happy to learn more expressly, from Mr. Lawrence, that the tanners in his part 

 of the country have been prevailed upon to try the experiment of larch bark 

 in tanning, and that they find it answer. — IV. T. Bree. Allesley Rectory, 

 Feb. 19. 1834. 



Thinning Plantations. — I quite agree with Mr. Lawrence, that " half the 

 trees which are planted, whether for ornament or profit, are either disfigured, 

 or rendered comparatively valueless, by being originally planted too near toge- 

 ther, or by being allowed to remain too long without thinning." And as the 

 majority of those who plant (however strange that it should be so) do, in fact, 

 from one cause or another, most grievously mismanage their plantations after- 

 wards, more especially by entirely neglecting the operation of thinning, or by 

 performing it injudiciously, the idea, as suggested by Mr. Lawrence, of plant- 

 ing on a regular plan, instead of indiscriminately, so that the thinning may be 

 accomplished by rule, and almost, as it were, mechanically, is well worth the 

 attention of landed proprietors.* L'ksome as the task may be to the gene- 

 rality, of marking a plantation, I am surprised to find Mr. Lawrence view the 

 work in that light. For myself, I scarcely know a more pleasurable occupa- 

 tion, especially if the trees are of a man's own planting. I am in the habit of 

 cutting a certain portion of woodland (not modern plantation, but old oak 

 coppice) every year. I mark every tree and pole myself ; and always look 

 forward to the marking day in the spring as a day of pleasure, and one of the 

 greatest holidays I have in the year. On these occasions I am accompanied 

 by a shrewd intelligent labourer, who has long been accustomed to work in 

 the woods, and takes a pride in setting them up as they ought to be. In a 

 case of difficulty, as, for example, where a number of fine straight poles or 

 samples occur so thick together that it becomes absolutely necessary to take 

 out some, while yet it is painful to condemn any, I often appeal to his judg- 

 ment, which, I have reason to think, is invariably good. He is always for 

 copious thinning, and complains that we are apt to be too tender-hearted ; 

 then he reminds me of his favourite adage, that " a quick nine-pence is better 

 than a slow shilling ;" and quotes the authority of his old father (also a wood- 

 man in his day) whose maxim was " cut wood and have wood." The great 

 and besetting sin of most planters and wood-owners, unquestionably, is neglect 

 of thinning; and this being the case, in order to obviate the evil, it may be 

 well to recommend the practice of not planting the trees too close together in 

 the first instance. But if planters might be trusted to thin their plantations 

 in time, and sufficiently, thick planting has its advantages, as it affords better 

 shelter, and tends to draw up the young trees, and render them long in the 

 but. The misfortune is, that people will not distinguish between the use and 

 the abuse of any system or method. Drawing up the young trees is a bene- 

 ficial practice (as already hinted), if adopted in moderation, and to a certain 

 extent; but, when carried to excess, becomes ruinous to the timber, whether 

 planted for ornament or for profit. — Id. 



from Roxburghshire, commenced his system on a farm at Linton in 1778, 

 farming at his own risk, the system was immediately adopted universally. 

 (Stephens on Irrigation and Draining, p. 37.) — Cond. 



* As regards the general improvement of landed property, by personal care 

 and superintendence, ornamenting a residence by planting, and, I may add, in 

 almost every other respect, the example of the excellent John Evelyn may be 

 held up as a model for the imitation of the English country gentleman. 



