CHAP. CV.

CORYLA'cEiE. QUE'RCUS.

1803

main stem, one year’s growth of side branches, till the plants are arrived at astem of 4-0 ft., 50 ft., or 60 ft.; and they may then be permitted to run to headwithout further pruning.” The thinnings, till the plants attain the height of5 ft. or 6 ft., may be used for transplanting; after that they may be sold forwalkingsticks, hoops, or crate-ware; at the next thinning, they may be cutdown in spring, and barked, and sold as poles and for fence-wood"; and, lastly,they may be cut down in spring, and barked, and sold as small timber for makingposts and rails, for gates, and for various country purposes.

As the Ultimatum on the Subject of planting and sheltering Oaks, we give thefollowing abstract of the practice adopted by the government officers in thenational forests, and more especially in the New Forest, where, as we havealready observed, it was introduced by Mr. Turner. This abstract was pre-pared by Alexander Milne, Esq., in answer to a question by Lord Hatherton,who intended to plant oaks extensively, as to the best mode of proceeding;and a copy of it was kindly presented to us by Mr. Milne : — “ When the newplantations in the royal forests (now exceeding 40,000 acres) were first under-taken, the opinions of the most extensive owners and growers of oak timber,and of the most experienced nurserymen in various parts of the kingdom, wereresorted to, as to the most advisable methods of planting, and especially as tothe expediency of mixing Scotch pines in plantations the ultimate object ofwhich was oak; and it is rather extraordinary, that the majority of the opinionsreceived were against such mixture. Accordingly, in the most favourablesoils and situations, oaks only were planted at first: but in spots where it wasthought doubtful if oaks would grow, Scotch pines were planted with a smallproportion of oaks intermixed; and it was soon'found that in many of thosespots, even under the disadvantages of inferior soil and greater exposure, suchwas the benefit derived from the warmth and shelter of the pines, that theoaks far outgrew their neighbours planted in more favourable soils, butwithout the same protection. After this, the use of Scotch pines becamemore general: strong belts were planted on the most exposed outsides of theplantations, and also across, at intervals, in lines, towards the most prevailingwinds, and from these great benefit was found ; but in all cases where oakswere planted actually amongst the pines, and surrounded by them, the oakswere found to be much the best. The plan next pursued was to plant anequal quantity of oaks and pines, planting both at the same time : the con-sequence of which was, that the pines got on immediately, but the oaksremained stationary for a few years, until the pines got sufficiently advancedto afford them shelter; and, in the intermediate time, a portion of the oaksdied, and some were choked by the high grass, briars, &c., with which theymight happen to be surrounded. For several years past, the plan pursuedhas been, to plant the enclosures with Scotch pines only, as soon as they arefenced in and drained (if draining is required); and when the pines have gotto the height of 5 ft. or 6 ft., which they will do in as many years, then to putin good strong oak plants of about 4 or 5 years’ growth, among the pines, notcutting away any pines at first, unless they happen to be so strong and thickas to overshadow the oaks. In about 2 years it becomes necessary to shredthe branches of the pines, to give light and air to the oaks; and, in about 2 or3 more years to begin gradually to remove the pines altogether, taking out acertain number each year, so that, at the end of 20 or 25 years, not a singleScotch pine shall be left; although,for the first 10 or 12 years,the plantationmay have appeared to contain nothing else but pines. The advantage of thismode of planting has been found to be, that the pines dry and ameliorate thesoil, destroying the coarse grass and brambles which frequently choke andinjure oaks; and that no mending over is necessary, as scarcely an oak soplanted is found to fail. It is not an expensive method of planting, especiallyif the plants are raised on the spot. The pines are planted by raising the turfwith a Scotch planting spade. [See Part IV.] A man and boy may plant 500in a day. For the oaks, good-sized holes must be made, and the making ofthese will cost from 1«. to 1«. 6 d. a hundred, according to the soil .—Office of