54 
ON ORNAMENTAL PLANTING. 
they make it inconvenient to walk through and examine the woods, and soon become 
choked up by the decomposition of leaves and other vegetable matter. 
Thinning and pruning must he attended to as the trees progress. Much has been 
written on this subject to little effect, for no general rules can be laid down that will be 
applicable to all cases. Much of this must therefore be left to the judgment of those 
having the management of woods. 
In regard to felling the timber, the grossest errors have been fallen into ; the timber 
has, in nine cases out of ten, been sacrificed to the bark, as if Oaks were grown for tanning 
purposes only. It were better to depend on copses for our hark, which we know to be the 
best for the tanner ; or to extend the cultivation of the Oak, upon that principle, on soils 
and in situations, where they would not attain the size of full-grown timber. If the bark 
of mature trees bring little, or even nothing, let it be so ; let us import the deficiency of 
hark from the Continent ; nor is it absolutely necessary that we should, in these days of 
invention, depend entirely on oak-bark for tanning purposes. Cut off the supply, and the 
tanner will soon find substitutes, several of which are already well known, and, his own 
ingenuity will discover others ; for, strange as it may appear, the tanner has made far 
less progress in the improvement of his art, than persons of almost any other profession 
whatever. 
The above remarks, it is scarcely necessary to observe, refer only to the production of 
Oak-timber in its full degree of excellence, whether for civil or naval architecture. 
ON ORNAMENTAL PLANTING. 
(Continued from Page 23 -) ' 
By Mr. Kemp, the Parle, Birkenhead. 
The size of tree we should generally recommend for ornamental planting is from three to 
five feet high, and chiefly below four feet. These we have found from experience make 
the best plants, and grow up soonest ; though it may, of course, be often advisable to 
introduce a few well-grown specimens, of from eight to fifteen feet in height, here and 
there throughout the plantation, to improve its outline, and give a more immediate effect. 
In regard to the Pine and Fir tribe, it is still more indispensable that small plants 
should be chosen, especially in exposed situations, and, yet more particularly, in the 
neighbourhood of the sea. From six inches to a foot is the best height for Pines, and 
from six to eighteen inches for Firs. Larch may he as high as two feet with impunity. 
But beyond these several heights it is not at all prudent to plant any of this tribe, in 
any quantity. 
The removal of large trees, from twenty to sixty feet high, must be spoken of as a 
thing that can he effected, where particular reasons for desiring it exist. One of such 
reasons is the placing a very handsome or favourite specimen in a more conspicuous or 
favourable position. Another is covering and shutting out a disagreeable object in the 
landscape at once, without having to wait several years. A third case is that in which a 
park, or park-like meadow, or garden, may be flat, tame, deficient in character or outline. 
And a fourth object for which large trees may be planted, is where an entirely new place 
has been formed, and, possessing few or no specimen trees, and being of a flat dull 
character, such trees may be introduced to break the monotony of young plantations, and 
give a variety of outline while the younger plants are growing up. 
Of this class of trees, it may simply here be said, that if taken up and replanted with 
great care, having large balls of earth, and being shifted- early in the autumn, during 
suitable weather, and well secured from the action of winds, they will commonly succeed. 
We would, however, wish strongly to suggest that those about and below thirty feet in 
