ISO LETTERS FROM HAMOX LE STRANGE AND ROBERT MARSHAM. 
I cannot act with my own judgment. So I have taken a 
method of my own. If a tree is 50 feet high, I take off 6, 8, 10, 
or 12 feet : and then leave the uppermost branches a foot 
from the stem : the next floor of branches I leave half a yard 
or 2 feet long, and so downwards, leaving them longer. By 
this means I leave the headed tree in its natural shape, and 
inable it to receive the same advantage from the rain and 
dews as it had before. This prevents its whipping its neigh- 
bours which should be the better tree ; and I flatter myself, 
the headed oaks may stand till they are worth 2 guineas a tree, 
with very little harm to the grove. They also throw out 
thick heads, which I hope will prevent the best trees from 
throwing out a great many lateral shoots, the common 
consequence of thinning too much at once by letting in too 
much air amongst them. Let me recommend this method 
to your Excellency. The only reason I know against it is, 
the headed trees will not increase so much in the stem as those 
untouch’d. But I had one that gained an inch this summer, 
and I hope every year they will suffer less than the first, 
and if they may stand till they are worth 2 guineas, instead 
of 5s., and the grove appear thicker at a distance, I am a 
gainer. But ’tis at present such a favourite hobby horse 
that I believe the headed trees will become in time both as 
good and handsom as if they were left to nature 
P.S. My Lord, an oak I planted in 1720 is this autumn 
83 feet and \ of timber in the body ; measuring bark as timber. 
I believe very few persons under 70 years old can say so 
much ; but I wish your Excellency may say it in time.’ 
