OF FOREST-TREES. 



83 



which he sowed in the neglected corners of his ground, did draw forth CHAP. ill. 

 such numbers of Oaks of competent growth, as being planted about his '^"^'^'''^^ 

 fields in even and uniform rows, about one hundred feet from the hedges, 

 bushed and well watered till they had sufficiently fixed themselves, did 

 wonderfully improve both the beauty and the value of his demesnes. — 

 But I proceed. 



Fiigora nec tantum cana concreta pruina 



Aut gravis incumbens scopulis artntibus aestas ; 



Quantum illi iiocuere greges, durique venenuni 



Dentis, et admorso signata in stirpe cicatrix. viRG. 



Under some particulai* circumstances, it may be proper to cover rocky and exposed situ- 

 ations with Oaks raised in a nursery. In such cases we should always plant from the 

 seed-bed : and in order to bring up the young Oaks, where the aspect and situation hap- 

 pen to be unfriendly, it should be recommended to skirt the wood, to a sufficient thickness, 

 with Scotch Firs, mixing some of them in the body of the wood. In this manner an ex- 

 posed situation may be made to produce excellent timber ; and when the trees are grown 

 to a size sufficient for their own protection, the first in the centre, which I call the imrses, 

 should be removed, otherwise they will injure the young Oaks : 



. Foster'd thus, 



Tiie cradled hero gains from ftmale care 

 His future vigour; but, that vigour felt. 

 He springs indignant from his nurse's arms. 



He nods the plumy crest, he shakes the spear, ^ 

 And is that awful thing which Heav'n ordain'd 



The scourge of tyrants, and his country's pride. mason. 



On the judicious thinning and cleaning a young wood, depends much of the planter's 

 success and profit ; on which account all gentlemen who engage deeply in planting will 

 find it highly necessary to appoint proper persons, whose office shall be solely confined to 

 the superintendence of the woods. From a neglect in this particular, the hopes of half a 

 century may be thrown away in a pei-iod of a few years. 



The method of seedling-planting comes nearest to the nature of sowing, and is generally 

 connected with it in all large undertakings ; but I must refer the reader to the notes upon 

 the different forest-trees in the course of this work, where the judicious practice of planting 

 from the seed-bed is occasionally recommended. 



It often happens, from natural or accidental causes, that planted Oaks grow stunted and 

 crooked ; in such cases they should be cut down at a proper season. In consequence of 

 this judicious practice, a clean leading shoot will be obtained that will soon overtake the 

 cotemporary trees that have not undergone the same operation. But it must be consi- 

 dered that no Oak should be thus headed down till two or three years after planting, or 



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