THE planter's GUIDE. 



173 



exposure, but likewise relative shelter, can be commanded 

 at pleasm-e. The great point of judgment and difficulty lies 

 in the opening up. A slow and gradual, yet ultimately a 

 full exposure, should be given to the plantation ; but we 

 should neither chill the trees by too sudden a transition to 

 cold, from the former temperature of the wood, nor yet, 

 by too timid a style of thinning, continue the existence of 

 the non-protecting properties. 



Perhaps it may appear a recommendation to some, 

 should they be persuaded to undertake this novel cultiva- 

 tion of woodland, that the benefits resulting from it are 

 not wholly confined to the removal of trees. If the ex- 

 tent of the tree nursery thus formed be two or three acres, 

 and the trees themselves of from twenty to thhty years 

 growth, then there will stand on the ground probably more 

 than three hundred plants per acre, after the first thin- 

 ning. Now, supposing that the landowner, who had 

 formed the nursery, should change his mind as to trans- 

 planting, and wish to dedicate the space to ordinary wood- 

 land purposes, it is to be observed that he has as yet put 

 himself to httle or no expense by this arboricultural im- 

 provement. The culture which he has bestowed upon the 

 plantation has already made its return by ample remune- 

 rating crops ; and to whatever purpose he may think pro- 

 per to turn it, the ground will still give him tolerable crops 

 of hay for some years to come. But after all, on compar- 

 ing it with his plantations of a corresponding age, it will 

 be found that he has strikingly benefited, not deteriorated, 

 the trees ; for they will yield him more vigorous and valu- 

 able wood than he could have obtained by any other given 

 method. 



