THE planter's GUIDE. 



255 



The most distinct method which I apprehend can be 

 adopted to show the true amount of the expense attending 

 the various processes above described, in the preparation 

 and removal of woods, is, in the first place, to state the 

 particulars in as far as they regard my own practice, 

 which any one may examine and verify at pleasure ; and 

 in the second place, to give a report of the operations of 

 a few well-known persons of the first respectability, who, 

 on a conviction of its correctness, have adopted my system, 

 not gratuitously and ignorantly, but with some knowledge 

 of scientific principle. For I will venture to assert, that 

 one ever yet adopted this system, ivith a hnowledge of the 

 principles on which it is founded, whose practice was not 

 attended more or less with success. The general error 

 committed by planters is to consider it too much as a 

 mechanical art, and not to allow to principles the just 

 rank and consequence they deserve. 



In the first place, as to my own practice. It is obvious 

 that there are two ways in which rural labour is performed. 

 The one is by contract, according to specific rates and 

 stipulated dimensions, which gives the cost in money on 

 ascertaining the extent of the work. The other is by day 

 labour, which gives it as certainly by the rate of wages 

 paid to the workmen, and an estimation of time. But 

 wherever much accuracy or nicety of execution is in ques- 

 tion, experience will advise to follow the latter, rather than 

 the former method. In the preparation of the soil, how- 

 ever, and likewise the preparation of subjects, the work 

 may be done sufl&ciently well by contract ; which, on a 

 large scale, and with expert workmen, I have sometimes 

 found it advisable to adopt, both as most speedy and most 

 economical. 



As to work executed by contract : the mode of pre- 

 paring the pits for single trees, and open dispositions of 



