OF FOREST-TREES. 



89 



of this let the industrious consult that whole tenth chapter in the second cHAP. III. 

 book of Vetruvius, where he expressly treats of this argument, de Ahiete 

 supernate et infernate, cum Appennini descriptione : where we note con- 

 cerning Oak, that it neither prospers in very hot nor excessive cold, 

 countries ; therefore there is little good of it to be found in Africa, or, 

 indeed, in the loAver and most southern parts of Italy, (but the Venetians 



it matters not from what sort of tree the acorns are gathered, provided they are good ; 

 " for although there seems to be a variety of the English Oak, in respect to the form 

 "of the leaf and fruit, also their coming into leaf at different seasons, with some other 

 "marks of distinction, yet I am of opinion that they will all make good timber-trees, 

 " if properly managed : it is natural to suppose that a tree will grow low and spreading 

 " in a hedge-row ; on the contrary, it is very improbable that many should grow so in a 

 " thick wood, where, in general, they draw one.another up straight and tall. And I have 

 "observed that the same distinctions hold good amongst our large timber-trees in the 

 " woods, as in the low-spreading Oaks in the hedge-rows. 



" Though I have not as yet taken notice of any other sort of tree but the Oak, yet we 

 " have a great regard for, and raise great quantities of Beech, Larch, Spanish Chestnut, 

 " Weymouth Pine, and all sorts of Firs, the Scotch excepted, as well as many other kinds, 

 " by way of thickening the plantations while young ; amongst which the Birch has hitherto 

 "been in the greatest estimation, it being a quick growing tree, and taking the lead 

 " of most other sorts on our poor forest-hills ; and as we have an inexhaustible spring 

 "of them in the woods, where they rise of themselves in abundance from seed, we 

 " at all times plant them plentifully of different sizes. As to the Elm and Ash, we plant 

 "but few of them on the forest, though we raise great quantities of both, but particularly 

 "the Ash, which being an useful wood (but a bad neighbour amongst the Oaks) 

 " we plant in places apart by itself. I shall dismiss this subject concerning the manage- 

 "mentof our nurseries, after saying a word or two relating to pruning: We go over the 

 " whole of the young trees in the nursery every winter ; but in this we do little more than 

 " shorten the strong side-shoots, and take off one of all such as have double leads. 



" Having thus pointed out the mode of forming and managing our nurseries, I shall now 

 "pi-oceed to the plantations. The size of the plantations, at first beginning, must 

 " be in proportion to the stock of young trees in the nursery ; for to undertake to plant 

 "more ground than we have young trees to go through with for thick plantations, would 

 "turn to poor account on our forest- hills. We always plant thick, as well as sow 

 "plentifully at the same time, provided it be a season in which acorns can be had ; so that 

 " all our plantations answer in a few years as nurseries to succeeding plantations. 



" As to the form of the plantations, they are very irregular : We sometimes follow a chain 

 "of hills to a very great distance; so that what we plant in one season, which perhaps 

 " is sixty, eighty, and sometimes an hundred acres, is no more than a part of one great 

 " design. 



" If the ground intended to be planted has not already been got into order for that 

 " purpose, it should be fenced about at least a twelvemonth before it is wanted to plant 

 Volume I. T 



