PRUNING FIR-TREES. l6*l 



to English Fir some of the character of the English Oak; 

 towards such end, if attainable, every means should be used, 

 and towards it nothing appears more likely to succeed, than 

 a well grounded general practical mode of management, 

 from the time of their being planted out, to their greatest 

 imaginable age of improvement. That a knowledge of such 

 may by perseverance be gained, is not much to be doubted; 

 and by inspecting and considering the specimens herein re- 

 ferred to, there appears great reason to conclude, that early 

 and proper pruning and thinning will form a considerable 

 feature in the system to be adopted. 



Now as forms are first instruments in good systems, and 

 as proceedings on fundamental principles (though in the 

 essay they may a little err) are better, in a general view, than 

 occasional success by hazard; so it may be warrantable that 

 a system for general management may be laid down, al- 

 though the author cannot possibly have lived to prove all by 

 experience : so the rules hereafter submitted are given, being 

 the result of only a few years observations. 



For planting, from every authority or observation, there Planting thick. 

 can be no doubt that all firs should be planted thick ; not 

 more than four or five feet apart. 



Where firs of the same kind are planted together, there is Not several 

 less loss of plants from one sort overgrowing and destroying species toge- 

 the others ; consequently it appears adviseable, that all the 

 different sorts be planted by themselves. If any admixture 

 be at all admitted, the Scotch and larch may best succeed : 

 but this is not certain, and they will certainly be best sepa- 

 rate on two accounts ; first, because they are not so likely to 

 injure each other ; and secondly, the larch may be put into 

 the ground best suited to them, and the Scotch the same. 



In making plantations of any particular sort, it may be Spruce as a 

 right to have a few spruce, or other sorts on the outside, to skreen. 

 prevent mischief from sudden gusts of Avind ; but if the si- 

 tuation is not subject to such gusts, the spruce had better be 

 omitted, being mechanical agents only, and by excluding 

 the sun and air they act against the operation of nature. 



In these hints ornament is not considered ; if such be Ornamental 

 wanted, and profit also, then the spruce, larch, silver, and 1J alltaUons ' 

 some others may be combined. 



From 



