568 



ON USEFUL AND 



BOOK I. 



here and there a gentleman, previously to planting, prepares 

 the soil, then inserts the plants judiciously, — encloses his plan- 

 tation, — cultivates, trains, and thins it with propriety; — when, 

 in consequence of this, his trees are outgrowing those planted 

 many years before, and yielding more than woods of three times 

 their age — the neighbouring gentlemen take the hint, and 

 adopt the practice — it spreads around, and in a short time it is 

 followed throughout the whole country. This was precisely 

 the case with farming. The most approved systems of agricul- 

 ture and rural economy, which are followed at the present day, 

 were long since described by the ancients, and more recently 

 detailed in numerous publications by the moderns; but until 

 a few spirited and liberal-minded men set the example, and 

 proved, by their superior crops, the advantages of the new sys- 

 tem, nothing was done. But this being now accomplished, 

 good husbandry is spreading wider and wider, and gentlemen, 

 no less than farmers, feel the good consequences. 



In bringing a neglected plantation under proper management, 

 the first thing to be considered is, the kind of plantation which 

 ought to have been made there ; whether an open grove, thick 

 wood, or copse only. It is then to be considered by what means 

 it may be reduced to the proper character, or to which cha- 

 racter it can most easily be changed; for cases will often occur,, 

 where the originally proper character must not "be attempted^ 



