17 



without any expense of replanting, perpetually. 

 The value of an acre of oak, Spanish chesnut, and 

 elm trees, as above, at sixty years old, may be 

 fairly reckoned at or nearly L.400 ; besides, the 

 cuttings from the natural under-wood will have 

 paid a rent of not less than L.3 per acre annually, 

 leaving always a crop of timber trees fit for naval 

 purposes rearing on the ground, reckoning the tim- 

 ber, including bark of such trees, at five shillings 

 per cubical foot ; but this price may vary a little 

 according as the locality of the plantation may be 

 to a market or sea carriage. 



Having given you a statement of the probable 

 expense of planting, rearing, and reaping of an 

 acre in its different stages, it will serve for any 

 number of acres, on such soils, &c* 



N. B. — If there are neither stones nor timber on 

 the estate, or in the neighbourhood fit for enclos- 

 ing, the most economical method would be to plant 

 immediately (although the plants were to be 

 bought in,) a few acres wholly with larch firs ; 

 or if in marshy or wet places, with the common 

 willow, as these will come up in the course of a 

 very short time, to afford a sufficient supply of pal- 

 ing, for enclosing 500 acres, year after year. If 

 necessary to have recourse to this method of en- 

 closing, the larch may be planted at two feet six 

 inches, and the willows at two feet, plant from 

 plant. I have known willows fit for paling in 

 three, and larch in six years. If recourse is to be 

 had wholly to a wooden fence, the paling recom- 

 mended in my Forester's Guide will be found the 

 most sufficient, permanent, and cheapest. I have 



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