47 



wood; what distance to plant trees asunder, &c. ; but no 

 book with which I am acquainted points out the injuries con- 

 sequent on the present system of keeping all the trees on the 

 ground as they were planted, — too frequently pursued, — with 

 the exception of a small paper in a horticultural magazine, 

 written by Mr. Joshua Major, of Knostrop, near Leeds. 

 Trees are usually planted of the height of two feet, and at 

 three or four feet asunder, and if this distance is considered 

 sufficient in the beginning, why is it not considered right to 

 preserve a similar proportion, at least in some degree^ as they 

 grow up? and I find I am supported in that opinion by Mr, 

 Major, that they are allowed to remain as they were planted ; 

 I will give Mr. Major's own words. He says — I find 

 " wherever my profession calls me, I observe very great and 



glaring defects in plantations, arising, in nine cases out of 

 " ten, from the want of early and judicious thinnings. Now 

 " could we persuade gentlemen, and persons who have the 

 ** management of plantations, to commence thinning a few 

 " years after planting, and to continue to do so once in two 



or three years, as it is necessary, the defects I complain of 

 " would be prevented, and the object I have in view effec- 

 " tually attained. We generally find plantations wholly neg- 

 " lected for the space of fifteen or twenty years, and some- 

 " times even longer, and that, though the trees were planted 

 " at no greater distance than three or four feet from each 

 ** other : such management must cause the branches to decay 



and fall off", and consequently leave the trees little better 

 " than naked poles, miserably ill calculated to form a screen 

 "or to ornament the surrounding landscape I may add, 

 with only a brush at the top, and I appeal to any one conver- 

 sant with mechanics, what tremendous power the wind would 

 have upon trees 10 or 12 yards high, and having little root 

 hold. But it is perhaps useful that such as Mr. Major has 

 described should here or there be preserved for the benefit of 



