OF FOREST-TREES.

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which he sowed in the neglected comers of his ground, did draw forthsuch numbers of Oaks of competent growth, as being planted about hisfields in even and uniform rows, about one hundred feet from the hedges,bushed and well watered till they had sufficiently fixed themselves, didwonderfully improve both the beauty and the value of his demesnes.—But I proceed.

Frigora nec tantum cana concrela pruini. Aut gravis incurabens scopulis arentibus a:stas;

Quantum illi nocuere greges, durique venenum

Dentis, et admorso signata in stirpe cicatrix. virg.

Under some particular circumstances it may be proper to cover rocky and exposed situ-ations with Oaks raised in a nursery. In such cases we should always plant from theseed-bed: and in order to bring up the young Oaks, where the aspect and situation hap-pen to be unfriendly, it should be recommended to skirt the-wood, to a sufficient thicknefs,with Scotch Firs, mixing some of them in the body of the wood. In this manner an ex-posed situation may be made to produce excellent timber; and when the trees are grownto a size sufficient for their own protection, the firs in the centre, which I call the nurses,.Should be removed, otherwise they will injure the young Oaks :

---Foster’d thus,

The cradled hero gains from female careHis future vigour; but, that vigour felt,

He springs indignant'from his nurse’s arms,

. He nods the plumy crest, he shakes the spear,

And is that awful thing which heav’n ordain’d

The scourge of tyrants, and his country’s pride. mason.

On the judicious thinning and cleaning a young wood, depends much of the planter’ssuccefs and profit; on which account all gentlemen who engage deeply in planting willfind it highly necefsary to appoint proper persons, Whose office shall be solely confined tothe superintendance of the woods. From a neglect in this particular, the hopes of half acentury may be thrown away in a period of a few years.

The method of seedling-planting comes nearest to the nature of sowing, and is generallyconnected with it in all large undertakings; but I must refer the reader to the notes uponthe different forest-trees in the course of this work, where the judicious practice of plantingfrom the seed-bed is occasionally recommended.

It often happens, from natural or accidental causes, that planted Oaks grow stunted andcrooked; in such cases they should be cut down at a proper season. In consequence ofthis judicious practice, a clean leading shoot will be obtained that will soon overtake thecotemporary trees that have not undergone the same operation. But it must be consi-4e,ed that no Oak should be thus headed down till .two or three years after planting, or

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