80 



A DISCOURSE 



BOOK I. be planted at more remote distances, and free from all incumbrances : 

 and this upon consideration, how slowly a full grown Oak mounts up- 

 wards, and how speedily it spreads and dilates itself to all quarters, by 

 dressing and due culture, so as above forty years advance is to be gained 

 by this only industry : and if thus his Majesty's forests and chases were 

 stored, viz, with this spreading tree at handsome intervals, by which 



In all cases of planting, shelter and warmth are particularly required. Where the plan- 

 tations are flat, it may be advisable to skirt the wood with Scotch Fir, which, being a 

 hardy and quick-growing tree, is well calculated for this purpose. 



Birch is sometimes put between the rows of Oaks, and in mountainous situations this is 

 a good method ; others recommend the Fir for this purpose, but it is apt to vegetate too 

 fast and over-top the Oaks. 



I shall now consider our plantation as far advanced, in which case a particular attention 

 should be paid to the trees left for timber. These should stand from twenty to thirty feet 

 distant from each other, which will not be too near where the trees thrive well ; in which 

 case their heads will spread, so as to meet in about thirty or thirty-five years ; nor will 

 this distance be so great as to impede the upright growth of the trees. This distance is 

 recommended, that the trees may enjoy the whole benefit of the soil ; therefore, after one 

 crop of the under-wood, or at the most two crops are cut, I would advise the stubbing up 

 the stools, that the ground may be entirely clear for the advantage of the growing timber, 

 which is what should be principally regarded ; but, in general, most people attend more to 

 the immediate profit of the under-wood, than the future good of the timber, and freg[uently 

 by so doing spoil both ; for if the under-wood be left after the trees have spread so far as 

 that their heads meet, the under-wood will not be of much value ; and yet, by their stools 

 being left, they will draw a great share of nourishment from the timber-trees, and retard 

 them in their growth. 



Such Gentlemen as are desirous of raising Oaks to plant out for standards, either in 

 parks or in fields, for clumps, or for avenues, must train them in the following manner : 

 Having raised them in the seed-bed, as before directed, let them remain there two years ; 

 after which a piece of good ground must be prepared for their reception, where they must 

 grow until they are of a size sufficient to be planted out where they are designed to re- 

 main. This ground must be trenched, or double dug; then taking the plants out of the 

 seed-bed, as before directed, let a man and boy plant them upon this new double- 

 dug ground, at the distance of two feet row from row, and a foot and a half asunder in 

 the rows. Every winter, until the plants are taken out of this nursery, the ground 

 should be dug between the rows ; and this is what gardeners call itirning-iii. They will 

 require no other pruning than taking off any imsightly side-shoot ; or where the tree is in- 

 clined to be forked, taking off the weakest branch. Nor is any other precaution necessary 

 until the time for their being planted out to continue, which must be done as follows : 



First, carefully take the trees out of the nursery, and then prune the roots, which must 

 be done by holding the plant in your left-hand, that the stroke of the knife in the right 



