OF FOREST-TREES. 



133 



note of the accurate critic Palmerius, upon a passage in Theophrastus, CHAP 

 where he animadverts upon his interpreter, and shows that the ancient 

 ^yiyof, was by no means the Beech, but a kind of Oak ; for that the figure 

 of the fruit is so widely unUke it, that being round, this triangular : And 



This tree is propagated by sowing the mast in the seminary, and afterwards transplanting 

 the seedlings into the nursery ; for which consult the directions given in the notes upon 

 page 42. 



When these trees are designed for standards in fields, parks, &c. they must be permitted 

 to grow in the nursery till they are of a proper size, when they should be carefully taken 

 up, and planted in the same manner as formerly directed for the Elm. — When intended 

 for woods, the ground must be prepared as for the Wych Elm ; they should be planted at 

 the same distance, of the same size, and thinned in the same manner. 



The Beech naturally delights in a chalky or stony ground, and the bark, upon such 

 land, is clear and smooth ; a certain indication that the soil suits the tree. And although this 

 timber is not so valuable as many other kinds, yet as it will thrive in soils and situations 

 where few other trees will grow, the propagation of it should be encouraged. Besides this 

 good quality, it is known to afford an agreeable shade ; the leaves make a fine appearance 

 in summer, and continue as late in autumn as any of the deciduous kinds. 



When planted upon stony or chalky mountains, the Beech will resist the winds better 

 than most other trees, but then the plants should be taken from a nursery of a similar soil ; 

 for if they are raised upon rich land and in a warm exposure, and afterwards carried to a 

 bleak situation and barren soil, they will seldom thrive : And this rule is supposed by some 

 planters to hold good in most other trees, contrary to the practice of all Nurserymen, who 

 constantly raise their foregt-trees upon good land. However, let this be remarked, that 

 the best-rooted plants are always produced upon the best land — and in all kinds of plant- 

 ing, a good root is an essential consideration. Upon the whole, the best and least expen- 

 sive method is to raise plantations of this tree by sowing the mast where the plants are to 

 remain, agreeable to the general idea given in chap. iii. book i. When raised in this 

 manner, they will not sustain the inconveniences arising from the change of soil and situa- 

 tion. In Berkshire, the Beech- woods are exceedingly well managed, by continually clear- 

 ing away the beech-stems, from eight down to three or four inches girt, where they stand 

 too thick, or appear unhealthy. The best trees are sold to coachmakers, wheelwrights, 

 and farmers, at sevenpence per foot; the others are generally cut up into billets, and 

 faggots for the bakers in the country ; and great quantities are sent down to London for 

 the bakers there, as well as for packing in the holds of ships. The woodman marks the 

 bUlets according to their size, with one, two, or three notches, which are considered as so 

 many farthings worth, when the billets are sold ; and, by this means, he is enabled to ascer- 

 tain not only the value of the wood cut up, but pays his workmen accordingly, at the rate of 

 sixpence for every 255 notches, which is called a load. Those who take care of their 

 woodlands, permit their laboui'ers, during the winter months, to take up the old roots from 

 which no shoot is rising, on condition that the workmen plant new sets, in a proper manner. 

 By this judicious practice a constant succession is kept up at no expense. 



