SUCCESSION CROPS OF WOOD. 293 



the ground which renders it so perniciously suscep- 

 tible of admitting drought. In planting firs, and 

 the other kinds which require to be removed from 

 the nursery while they are yet very young, on this 

 plan, the pit should be first filled up, and the young 

 tree afterwards placed in its centre by means of a 

 common garden dibble. I know of no reasonable 

 objection that can be had to this mode of proceed- 

 ing, but that it will be found expensive. 



The readiest, however, as well as the cheapest way 

 of raising a succession crop of wood, is to plant un- 

 derwood of the proper kind for that purpose, among 

 the old trees, at least 12 or 15 years before it is in- 

 tended to cut them down, if it has not been done at 

 an earlier period. When the latter are removed, 

 the former will become the principal crop in its 

 turn ; and as its roots will already be well establish- 

 ed in the ground, it may be trained up into timber 

 with the greatest facility. The method of planting 

 underwood for this purpose, is explained at another 

 place*, and it will be only necessary here to give some 

 directions for its treatment after the old trees are 

 cut down. When this takes place, the underwood 

 will have rather an unpromising appearance. Be- 



* Supra, p. 270, &c. 



