274 CORYLACE.E. 



a mere nurse plant, superior to any of the other firs, as, 

 at the same time that it affords sufficient shelter, it admits, 

 from the nature as well as the deciduous character of its 

 foliage, more light and air at all seasons than they do ; 

 it also occupies less room, grows as rapidly, and its thin- 

 nings are valuable, even from the size of a hedge stake. 



We shall now proceed to make a few observations upon 

 the combinations, or assortment of trees we think best 

 adapted to plant with the Oak, upon soils of various 

 qualities, taking climate and situation also into consi- 

 deration. Upon land of good quality and loamy nature 

 and tolerably sheltered the following combinations are 

 recommended, and, taking the number of trees to be 

 planted upon each acre at 3000, that is, at rather more 

 than three feet and a half apart, they may be propor- 

 tioned as follows : first combination, larch 1000, firs Scotch 

 and spruce 400, the spruce for the damper spots, and 

 where the surface soil is light, Oak 600, cherry 600, 

 sycamore 400 ; a second combination might consist of 

 larch 1200, Oak 600, cherry S00, sweet chesnut 300, 

 Cerris Oak 200, firs 400; a third combination, larch 1500, 

 Oak 600, sweet chesnut and Cerris Oak 400, cherry 250, 

 sycamore or birch 250. Should the 3000 trees per acre, 

 upon this superior soil, be thought too great a number, 

 then the different species may be reduced proportionately ■ 

 to the numbers above given. 



On soils of a stiffer or clayey staple, and in upland or 

 more exposed districts, the combination might be first, 

 larch 1000, firs 500, Oak 500, cherry 200, Cerris Oak, 

 chesnut, or sycamore 300, birch 500 ; or, second combi- 

 nation, larch 1000, firs 600, Oak 600, cherry 300, syca- 

 more and birch 500. In exposed and open districts, where 

 the surface soil is thin and poor, but where the substratum 



