452 



ON USEFUL AND 



BOOK I. 



est ornament to individual places, and the noblest improve- 

 ment of a country. Timber is a valuable article; as it affords 

 great gain to the individual proprietor, while it is the source 

 and support of the naval character and dignity of the British 

 Empire. 



As wood is productive both of beauty in landscape, and of 

 utility to the landed proprietor, it naturally follows, that he 

 who would direct the forming of plantations should be well 

 acquainted with trees, as far as they can operate in these 

 particulars. In this comprehensive point of view, I have 

 considered the subject, both in theory and practice ; and 



the following pages contain the leading particulars of improved 



\ 



practice; most of which appear to be too little attended to, 

 and some of them are not generally understood. In these ob- 

 servations I have omitted altogether one division of the sub- 

 ject, viz. the formation and management of the nursery; it be- 

 ing not only better known than the others, but less connected 

 with the purposes of this work. The rest is thus subdivided : 

 l.The objects of planting; 2. The materials and means for ac- 

 complishing these objects (Chap. II. and III.); 3. The subjects 

 or different kinds of plantations (Chap. IV.); 4. The prac- 

 tice of forming plantations (Chap. V.); and 5. Their future 

 management (Chap. VI.). 



