298 
Q, Wl—Has the} 4. III.—Increased 
price of oak timberjin home consumption 
for carpenters’ or coun-|from one shilling and 
try uses increased with-|six-pence to two shil- 
in the last fifteenyears, lings and six-pence, or 
and in what  propor-jthree shillings per foot 
tion? the average, or better. 
Q.1V.—Have the! 4. 1V¥.—The quan- 
plantationswhich haveltity of acorns sown, or 
been made within theloak-plants put out, 
last fifteen years been/have been very incon- 
chiefly of oak, or ofjsiderable ; thed fierent 
the kinds of trees not/kinds of firs and larches 
fit for shipbuilding,/have been more used ; 
and to what cause dojthey are of quicker 
you impute the cir-|growth,andcome much 
cumstance of one de-jsooner to profit, and 
scription of timberlare thought (though a 
having been preferred|perversion of true 
to another, in making/taste) more ornamen- 
plantations ? tal. Oaks make little 
é shew inless than thirty 
years, by which time 
the former will be fit 
for many purposes in 
building, I have used 
them at that age for 
every common_purpose 
lor building. From that 
jperiod, they grow not 
so rapidly, but the 
quality improves. Af- 
ter thirtyyears’ growth, 
the oak begins to 
thrive rapidly ;and give 
it proper room, it will 
continue to do so, till 
it arrives at its great 
age of one hundred 
years, and often for a 
much greater length 
of time. 
i. <repepceem>etaieatmenl 
Q. V.—When plan- 
tations have been made|common to make mixed 
of trees of differentiplantations of fir, 
descriptions, including|beech, ash, sycamore, 
oak, has the proportionjand oak, and it is pro- 
of oak in general shee to keep the young 
such, where the soilloaks warm and shel- 
was fit for the growthjteredjas their tendency 
of oak, as, when thelis to spread horizon- 
other trees have beenltally, they should be 
thinned, the oak trees|pushed forward by the 
remaining will be suf-linterference of other 
ficient to cover thejtrees, but great care 
ground, and is it thejtaken that they be 
practice to thin outinot over-topped, or 
the plantations by ta-\smothered, especially 
‘king the other treesiby the baneful shade 
ang leaving the oak? jof evergreens, and to 
watch against their too 
near interfefence, 
which is much to be 
apprehended from their 
quick growth. The oak, 
though it be necessary 
to give it an aspixing 
& 
Answer to Questions respecting 
A. V.—It has been ~ 
[May 1, 
“Itendency, yet should 
have some small la- 
teral shoots.It has been 
said, ‘¢ that you must 
- not prune the oak:”’ 
; but by doing it with 
care, you may forward 
its growth in its early 
stages 3 perhaps till it 
is fifteen feet high or 
more, some of its la- 
iterals may be cut close 
to its trunk ; the bark 
will heal over in a 
year ortwo. Though 
1 have not tried it, I 
think the sycamore the 
best plant to nurse up 
the oak; it is. easily 
raised, it will keep 
warm and protectwith- 
: out Over-topping; and 
may be cut out for 
stakes and small poles. 
Q. Vi.—Has any, 4. VI.—I do not 
considerable quantity,recollect any consi- 
of oak timber beenjderable plantations of 
planted in consequenceioak made on newly in- 
of the numerous en-|closed commons. 
closures of commons 
which have been made 
within the last fifteen 
years ? 
Q. VII. — What} 4. VII.—Ican only 
parts of the kingdom!speak to the counties 
do you think the best!of Salop, Stafford, 
suited for the culti-;| Warwick, Worcester, 
vation of oak timber,)Hereford, and Mont- 
either in respect ofjgomery ; which have — 
soil or climate, or ow-|afforded large supplies 
ing to the land notlof excellent oak tim- 
being so applicable to|ber,andin which there 
the purposes of agri-jare a variety of soils 
culture as it is in otherjand situations, admir- 
parts of the kingdom ?jably calculated for the 
growth of oak, which 
flourishes best in ra- 
ther strong soils, ten- 
{ding to clay, and on 
the north side. Though 
the higher situations 
are more frequently 
applied to the growth 
of trees 5 yet for rapi- 
aty of growth and 
size, the lower lands 
nave greatly the pre- 
‘erence, as l have seen 
in various instances. 
Q VIN. — Havel 4. VIIl.—No re- 
owners. of woods be-lzard is paid to the sta- 
come mote careful, in|cute that requires a> 
enclosing and protecc-|-ertain number of trees. 
ing them, than for |upon an acre, to be 
merly, in consequencclieft at every fall of 
of the encreased value|coppice wood, and it is 
of timber of late years,|oest to leave every 
one 
