254 TREATISE on 



bring money, which they ought to do in eighteen or twenty 

 years from phmting, at which time three-fourths more of the 

 remaining trees, and all the Poplars, mviftbe taken away, which 

 reduces them to twenty feet afunder, and when the value of the 

 timber, cut for country ufes, will certainly exceed both the ex- 

 pence of labour and rent of the ground, much more than any other 

 crop will ; befides, the trees at thefe diftances will not hereafter 

 prevent the ground from yielding good pafhure, and the value 

 of the plantation, for fifty years afterwards, will annually in- 

 creafe in greater proportion than before. 



Though I have mentioned the whole trees in this Foreft to 

 be planted the fame feafon, yet if the nurfing ones, which are 

 foon to be taken away, were planted a year or two before the 

 others, particularly in very bad foils, and expofed fituations, it 

 would, in place of lofing, be gaining time, as, from their imme- 

 diate and extraordinary fhelter, the better trees would have lit- 

 tle check from the winds the firft feafon, which when they meet 

 with in a violent degree, often keeps them at a ftand for feveral 

 years. It is therefore of the greateft confequence, that every 

 pofTible affiftance be given them, to encourage a free growth at 

 being firft planted out. 



Notwithstanding of warmly recommending flielter at firft 

 planting, as the moft probable means of fooneft procuring a 

 flourifliing plantation, yet I muft no lefs recommend attention 

 in taking away the necefTary proportions, where too thick, fea- 

 fonably as they advance ; from which negledl, I have often feen 

 many extenfive plantations of noble Oaks ruined, by being 

 overhung with Scots Firs, which not admitting a free circulation 



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