>-, V ^■"M 'r.,j^: 'S-^i: ''■SSsk ■vlS^.) -f .V*<«i v-^r:- '^. A? u ^-D-- ^o THE PLANTER'S KALENDAR; OR THE ^T^IlSERY]MAN's & FORESTEiTs GUIDE, IN THE OPERATION'S OF THE NURSERY, THE FOREST, AXD THE GROVE. S\- Tim LATE Wx\LTEIl NICOL, AUTHOR OF THE GARDEVEr's KALEXDAU, 6cC. EDITED AND COMPLETED Bv EDWARD SANG, NURSERYMAN'. EDINBURGH: Printed hy David WHlison, j-OR ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND COMPANY, EDINBURCir ; LONG-MAN, HURST, REES, ORME AND BROWN, AND JOHN MURRAY, LONDON ; AND JOHN CUMMINO, DUBLIN. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2009 with funding from NCSiJ Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/planterskalendarOOnico AD VERTISEMENT, The Editor contracts Jor the Executimi of all Unds 0 Forest and Ornamental Plantation. He reviews neglected Plantations, and gives Di' rections for their future Management, *^*^ Letters addressed to Edivard Sang, Nurs- ery and Seedsman, Kii^kcaldy, will be duly attended to. a 2 CORRIGENDA. P. 105. 1. 3. for stools read shoots 177. 17. — tight — light 387. 12. — moss, ; — mass, 439. 9. — alternate — ultimate PREFACE. When Mr Nicol publiihed his Gardener't^ Kalendar, early in the year 1 8 1 o, he announced his intention alfo to produce a Planter's and Nurferyman's Kalendar. In order to render this projected publication more perfe(St, he made an extenfive tour through England, in the courfe of the fummer and autumn of that year; vifiting many of the principal forefts and planta- tions, and the moft diftinguiflied feats of the Nobility and Gentry, in that opulent country, together with the chief nurferies near the me- tropolis ; and taking notes of the ftate of the forefts and plantations, and the different modes of management purfued by the moft eminent nurferymen and experienced forefters. It may fcarcely be neceflary to remark, that Mr Nicol was previoufly well acquainted with the prac- tice in Scotland ; he having many years ago publiftied the FraBical Planter; a book very favourably received by the Public, and which has been frequently reprinted. , . Upon VI PREFACE. Upon his return to Scotland he began this work. He had made fome progrefs in it, when he was feized with a fevere ilinefs, which enthe/y interrupted his labours, and which ultimately proved fatal in the fpring following. Having been requefted by Mr Conftable to complete the undertaking, I carefully examined the notes and references left by the deceafed ; and I had the mortification to find, that how- ever ufeful and important they might and would have been to himfelf, they were in many cafes ufelefs to any one elfe. My tafk, therefore, proved much more ferious than I had anticipated. I enjoyed, indeed, fome advantages. Mr Nicol was a near and an efteemed relation : I had lived in habits of the greateft intimacy with him ; and was perfectly well acquainted with his profeffional opinions and practice. Still, however, fo much remained undone, that, had not the fubjedts treated of been fa- miliar to myfelf, I fhould have declined inter- fering. But, having been perfonally engaged from my earlieft days in raifmg trees from feeds in the nurfery, and attending tlie plant- ing, pruning, and future management of them in the foreil and other fituations, I felt fome degree PREFACE. \11 degree of confidence in my own experience ; and I U'uft, therefore, that I fliall not be deemed prefumptuous for having, in thefe circumftances, undertaken the finifhing and editing of the Planted s Kalendar, Founding on my ov/n pra£lice and experi- ence, I have, where left entirely to myfelf, felt it my duty, on one or two occafions, to give opinions and advices different from tliofe deli- vered by my friend in his Pradical Planter, al- ready mentioned. I allude, in particular, to what is faid concerning the pruning of Firs and Larches in the foreit and the grove ; the man- ner, in fome inftances, of pruning young hard- wood trees ; and the rules to be obferv^ed in pitting of grounds, according to their nature and other circumftances. Thefe matters Vv^ere occafionally the fubjedt of friendly difcuffiou between us. In the following work, I thought it better at once to ftate my own views, than to have firft brought forward Mr Nicofs, and then, in effect, to have confuted them, which a re- gard for the truth would have required of mc, I feel that, on other grounds, fome explan- ation, and perhaps apology, is due to my bre- thren in the nurfery line. It may poflibly be thought. Vl!l FREFACI^. thought, that I have in fome inftances reveal- ed too freely the fecrets of the hufinefs. But, what is of more confequence, wherever the fccne of planting is extenfive, I have ftrongly recommended the cftabHlhment oi private nurf- eries ; and I have decidedly advifed xh^fowmg of the larger kinds of tree feeds, fuch as acorns, chefniits and walnuts, in the fpot where the trees are deilined to grow, in preference to the^/^;//-* ing of young trees taken from any nurfery what- ever. For thefe things I alone am refponfible. In my defence, I may appeal to every pa- triot Briton, as to the extreme importance of ad- opting the moft fpeedy and efFedual meafures to increafe the quantity of foreft plantation in thefe Illands, in order to meet the extraordinary Expenditure of our native timber which is now unavoidably taking place, owing to the unpa- ralleled war which has clofed the ufual fources of our fupply from the Continent. Now, where the defigns are extenfive, the planting will cer- tainly be greatly facilitated and forwarded by the formation of private nurferies ; and in no other eafes will fuch nurferies ever be found advan- tageous. Further ; — few, I prefume, w^ould be found difpofed to difpute the propofition, that private PREFACE, IX private emolument ought to give way to the general good. Befides, if individual enwlu- ment is really to be thus leffened, I cannot be fuppofed deftitute of a fellow-feeling on the fubjecl ; my own livelihood, and that of a nu- merous family, depending on the public nurfery bufinefs. But, after all, I have very little dread that either my own bufinefs, or that of my neigh- bours, will be hurt by the means alluded to. On the contrary, I am inclined to think, that if numerous private nurferies were eftablifhed, they would tend to make the fpirit for planting become more and more general, greatly to the advantage of thole concerned in the bufinefs of public nurferies. The plan adopted in the following work, as now completed by me, differs but litde from that Sketched out by the late Mr Nicol, and publifhed at the end of the"" Gardener's Ka- lendar. In the Introdudlion, I have endeavoured to enforce the momentoufly important doiStrine above hinted at, of laying a foundation for the future fupply of native timber, not only for domeftic and agricultural purpofes, but for the British X5- PREFACE. British Navy, that laft and glorious palla- dium of the liberties of Europe. The proper fituations and foils for a Nurfery are then treated of; and, in fucceffion, the foils and fituations beft calculated for Foreft a-nd • Grove plantations, and for Woods and Copfes. The different kinds of Foreft Trees are next charaderized ; and this part of the work is clofed with a fhort view of the advantages to be derived from planting. The Kalcndar follovs^s ; and, in it, for every month in the year, the work to be particularly attended to during each month, is diftindly ftat- ed, under the refpeftive heads of Nurfery, Fo- reft Plantation, Ornamental Plantation, Copfes, and Fences. In order to illuftrate fome things more per- fedly, three engravings are given. In the firft, I have exhibited the general appearance of two properly pruned grove trees, the one thirty, and the other ten years of age, and of one that is Improperly pruned. In plate fecond, the baneful confequences of bad pruning are exem- plified in two planks, figured from nature. In the third plate, the various implements more particularly PRFFACE. Si particularly alluded to in the courfe of the trea- tife are reprefented. In an Appendix, I have given full initruc- tions for the formation and management of Ofier plantations ; and have defcribed the dif- ferent fpecies of willows beft fuited to this pur- pofe. I have added fome tabular views, which I judged might prove both entertaining and ufeful. Although, in a few inftances, tlie practice recommended in this treatife may be more im- mediately calculated for the climate of Scotland, I have conftantly kept in view the poflibility of the book being confulted by Engliih or iriili planters and improvers ; and I fiaiiter my fel^ that, if it be, they will have no cauie to re- pent. Being a Scotfman, I take it for grnnted that I may infenfibly have fallen into Scclki/im, as they are called, in attempting to write Eng- lifh. I have fomedmes alfo intentionally em- ployed exprefTive Scots terms ; and where I fuppofed thefe might be unintelligible to my Southern readers, I have taken care to explaia their meaning. As to the general fiyle of the book, (for which I confidcr m.yfelf anfwerable, havinfr xu prefa<:e. having in a great meafiire moulded Mr Nlcors obfervations into my own ftyle) j if I have fucceeded in being tolerably plain and perfpi- cuoiis, and not very ungrammatical, this is all I have aimed at, and all, in my opinion, that ought to be required of a pradical mari. EDW. SANG. NUUSERIES, KlUKCALDY,? CON- CONTENTS. Pag* Preface ----- v Explanation of Plates _ _ - xvii Introduction. — Importance of ensuring a future supply of Navy Timber _ . - - 1 Section I. Situations and Soils for a Nursery - 19 II. Situations for Forest and Grove Plant- ations, &c. 1. Forests - - 2S 2. Gi'oves - - - 40 III. Situations for Woods and Coppices. 1. Woods - - 43 2. Coppices - - - 47 IV. Soils best adapted to the different kinds of Forest Trees - - 49 V. Kinds of Trees fitted for Forests, Groves, Woods, &c. with their Properties and Uses - - _ - 70 Deciduous - - - 72 Evergi'cen - - 106 yi. Value of Timber, and sliort View of the Advantages to be derived from Planting - - - 119 i65 ^* CONTENTS. Pag* THE KALENDAR. Nursery - . . _ 127 • Ornamental Plantations - - - 138 Foi-est Plantations - - - 155 Woods and Copses - - - - 18S Fences . - - - . 202 Feh-iinrij. Nursery - - _ _ 225 Ornamental Plantations - _ _ Forest Plantations - - - _„ Woods and Copses - - _ - 27 Fences - - - _ 273 MarcJi. Nurseiy - - « _ 28 1 Ornamental Plantations - - - 291 Forest Plantations - ^ _ 295 Woods and Copses - - - 301 Fences - - - - 308 Api-ll. Nursery - _ _ , 3jq Ornamental Plantations - - - 341 Forest Plantations - -^ - 344, Woods and Copses - - - - 357 Fences - - _ _ ^qq Nursery - - - - 369 Ornamental Plantations - - _ 377 Forest Plantations - - _ 352 Woods and Copses - - . » 400 Fences - - - „ 412 June CONTENTS. XV Tage June. Nursery - - - - - ^^*^ Ornamental Plantations - - 4-23 Forest Plantations - - - 425 Woods and Copses - - - 428 Fences _ - - - 430 Nursery - - - - ^•SS Ornamental Plantations - - - 437 Forest Plantations - - - 44<1 Woods and Copses - - - 444 Fences . - - - 445 August, Nurserj'^ - - - - ^■ol Ornamental Plantations - - - 4' 5 5 Forest Plantations - - - 456 Woods and Copses _ - - 459 Fences _ - - - 460 September. Nursery _ _ _ - - 465 Ornamental Plantations - - 470 Forest Plantations - - - 477 Woods and Copses - - - 4S9 Fences - - - - 490 Oduher. Nursery _ - - .^ - 495 Ornamental Plantations - - 509 Forest Plantations - - - 511 Woods and Copses - - - 513 Fences r - " " -^^^ yovemhcr. CONTENTS. Pag* Novemher. Nursery - - - - - -519 Ornamental Plantations - - - 32.") Forest Plantations _ _ - 528 Woods and Copses - - - 53 1 Fences - - - - 5 3 'J Dccemha-. Nursery - - - - - •'535 Ornamental Plantations - - .'537 Forest Plantations - - - 53S Woods and Copses - - - /JIO Fences - - - - .S-i J A P P E N D I X. 1. On the Formation and ^lanagcment of Osier Plantations, Sec. _ _ _ 5J.3 II. Account of some remarkable Trees in Scot- land _ - - - 5Gf) III. Amount of Waste Lands in Scotland - 571 IV. Tables sho\vini]j the Number of Trees \vhicli may be planted on a Scots and on an Eng- lish Acre, at certain Distances - 575 V. Pi'ices of Timber and Oak Bark at Leith, for scvei'al Years - - - 57G Index ----- 577 EXPLAN- ' EXPLANATION OF PLATES. ToTME BOOKBINDER. iThe Binder is mjucsted to place each Plate fronting its Expliination.] is:vui EXPLANATION OF PLATES, PLATE L Fig. 1. Represents a tree in a grove or thick plantation of thirty years of age, which lias been r*^u- larly and properly pruned from infancy on- wards. Fig, 2. Kepresents a tree of the same age, on the skirtf of a plantation, which has been neglected in the pruning from infancy onwards j and which now being pruned in a way too frequently practised, is left in a state highly injurious to its health, and destructive of die soundness of its timber: For it is manifest, that before the bole can be enlarged sufficiently to cover the stumps of branches left, many years must elapse ; these where it has fufficient fcope for its roots. In fhallow foils, and expofed places, it never fucceeds. In foils of a middling fort, and in fituations tolerably well sheltered, its timber becomes very valuable. It is a native of Sweden and Norway- The Walnut. lliis is a tree not often found in the forelf, at leaft in Scotland j yet, confidering the fize it at- tains to, and the ufefulnefs and value of its tim- ber, we think it claims the moll particular atten- tion of planters all over the kingdom. It is ori- ginally from Afia; but is hardy, and thrives well in all foils in which there is any confiderable por- tion of loam, provided they be dry, and the fitua- tion fomewhat fheltered. In loam mixed with clay fchiftus, (as at Alva), * it flourifhes remark- ably, and arrives at a large fize j in dry, brown loam, on the banks of a natural lake, (as at Ot- terfton, Fifelhire) j and in clayey loam, on till, (as at Panmure) ; it has reached a good timber fize within a century. At Raith, (in Fifefhire), on a high fituation, in ftrong loam incumbent E 2 on * There stands, or did lately stand, near the house at Alva, the finest and largest Walnut-tree we remember of Saving seen, either in Scotland or En^jland, 66 SOILS FOR ' on a whinftone rock, it makes a good tree. The timber produced in fuch fituations, though fmall- er, is more folid and valuable than that produc- ed in more favourable places, as we lately ob- ferved at Hillfide in Fifefliire. f The Willow. The Willow, of which there are many fpecies, is often found growing naiuralli) in forells and woods, and of courfe it deferves a place here. The Huntingdon willow, and the Bedford wil- low, are the kinds mod worthy of cultivation for timber. The Huntingdon willow is very gene- rally known, while the Bedford wiUow, fo much efteemed in England, has been little attended to in Scotland. It grows to a great fize, and its tim- ber is ufeful for many purpofes. There are a few large trees of this fort about Edinburgh, par- ticularly at the village of Canonmills. A kind called the Red-twigged Willow may alfo be men- tioned : it forms a large tree, and has a fine fil- very foliage : it is probably the fame as the Up- land Willow of Mr Pontey. * The f At Hillside grew a single large Walnut-tree, which was blown down last spring, (1810) ; when cut up, it was found quite hollow. It grew in very deep loam, but had probably been mismanaged in youth. * Several trees of the red-twigged willow, are presently growing at Brucefield Nursery, near Dunfermline, Fifeshirc, 60 feet high and upwards: They grow as rapidly, and pro- duce as good timber as the Huntingdon. FOREST TREES. 69 The fituations mofl proper for willow trees are fuch as are low and moift, by the fides of rivers and brooks ; yet mofl fpecies will thrive in high, and even dry fituations and foils. In molt foils, if a foot in depth, the willow grows apace, and arrives at a confiderable fize, according to its nature. bECT. 7* KINDS OF TRFE&, SECTION V. On the Kinds of Trees most fit to be cul- tivated IN Forests, Groves and Woods j IN THE Park, and in Hedgerows ; their Properties and Uses. We fliall here firft exhibit a lift of the kinds of trees moft fit to be cultivated in the above fitua- tions J and then proceed to detail their appear- ances, ftations, properties, and the general pur- pofes to which their wood, bark or twigs, are ap- plied. Deciduous Trees, * The Alder, The Beech, TheAlh, The Birch, The Mountain-Afh, The Cherry, The * The particular order or arrangement of the trees men- tioned being of little importance, they chiefly follow in the alphabetical order of their common English names. THEIR PROPERTIES, &C. 7^ The Chefnut, The Horfe-Chefnut, The Elm, (2 fpecies.) The Hawthorn, The Hornbeam, The Laburnum, The Larch, The Lime, The Oak, The Plane, (2 fpecies.) The Poplar, (difFerent fpecies.) The Sycamore, The Walnut, The Willow, (different fpecies.) Evergreen Trees. TheBalmofGileadFir, The Silver Fir, The American Spruce Fir, (2 fpecies.) The Common, or Nor- way, Spruce Fir, The Pinafter, The Scots Pine or Fir, The Weymouth Pine, The Cedar of LcbanoDy The Holly, The Yew. * The * In this list, there are several kinds of trees which have not been noticed in the preceding section on Soils ; and it may be proper here, for the information of some readers^ to remark, that the Horse-Chesnut and the Hawthorn will thrive well in all loamy soils, and moderately sheltered situations. In treating of the last named as a hedge-plant, however, this matter will be more particularly noticed in the Kalendar. The Lime is a free-growing tree in almost any soil or si- tuation where it may with propriety be planted. It is fit f nly for situations ne^r a residence- Tht f'i KINDS OF TREES, The Alder, Oiler, or Allgr, (Betula alnus,) This IS a middle-fized tree. If allowed to take its natural form, it may be termed rather a hand- fomc The Plane thrives best in light loams which are moist* but not wet. It will grow freely, however, in drier and in poor soils. Like the lime, it is fit only for the grounds near a residence. The American Plane thrives better in a moist soil than the Eastern Plane, and will even endure partial inundations. The Poplar will thrive in the soils specified in the preced- ing section as being fit for the willow. The Balm of Gilead Fir will thrive wherever the Silver fir flourishes. The American Spruce thrives best in moist, loamy soils, and sheltered situations ; yet it will grow freely in lighter aiid drier soils, if moderately well sheltered. The Pinaster is equally hardy with the Scots fir ; in ma- ritime situations perhaps more so. The Weymouth Pine and the Cedar of Lebanon, grow freely on all lightish soils of a moderate depth ; but best io deep sandy loams. Neither of them are suited for the northern parts of our island, especially in very exposed si- tuations. The Holly and the Yew are both hardy trees ; and are found growing naturally in high, bleak, as well as in low, sheltered, shaded situations ; in a variety of soils, from a light sand to a strong clay. THEIR PROPERTIES, ScC. 73 fome tree than otherwife. Its leaves are of a fine dark green; and it retains them late in the feafon; fo that, in autumn, it forms a ftriking contrail with many other deciduous trees. It cannot, how- ever, be reckoned among ornamental trees, unlefs it be employed for the purpofe of concealing a marfh, ftagnant pool, or the like, in a park or in dreffed grounds. Its great ufefulnefs, by the fides of rivers and rapid ftreams, has been noticed in the preceding fedion. Alder wood is ufed by the turners and patten-makers ; alfo for flooring, and for roofing of fheds and outhoufes ; for the ckath- ing or lining of carts, and the like. It makes durable pofls for gates ; and as it endures v/ater long without injury, it makes lafting props in coal and iron mines, and has been much planted of late for thefe purpofes. Charcoal of it is a good deal ufed in the manufa£lure of gunpowder. The bark of the Alder affords a flrong tan, and is now much employed, along with the barks of oak and birch, in the tanning of leather. It is well known alfo, in the Scots Highlands, as a dye for fome of the colours ufed in the manufacture of farta?i and other fluffs worn in that country. The 74 kinds of trees, The Ash. (^Fradimis ej:cehior.) The Afii is a free growing tree, and, when in perfection, is of great magnitude. It is too well known to require minute defcription. The moft proper flation for the A(h, is certainly in the fo- refl or the grove ; but it is of that figure that it may be admitted as a fmgle tree in the park or the lawn. Much, however, has been faid againfl admit- ting the common Aih as an ornamental tree. One difcards it, becaufe it does not leaf till late in the fpring ; but, for the fame reafon, the oak and the platanus might alfo be rejected. Another de- nies it admiffion, becaufe it fheds its leaves early in autumn ; but the fame obje6lion would apply to the beech, the cherry, and the fycamore. A third denounces it, becaufe its foliage is thin, and its branches bare and ugly. Thus the Afii, the mofl: ufeful and accommodating of trees, is often denied a place where, we hefitate not to fay, it might appear with the utmofl propriety j and the real reafon perhaps is merely that it is common. It may be remarked, that fome of the very ar- guments adduced againfl: the admiflion of the Afli into ornamental fituations, are fuch as a perfon of X tafte THEIR PROPERTIES, &C. 75 tafte would ufe for its introdudion ; becaufe the more diflimilar the A(h is to its neighbouring trees, the greater the contrail and variety, and, of courfe, the power of pleafmg. Surely the ftately height and bulk of a full- grown Alh, in its native foil, clothed with a live- ly green foliage, elegantly pinnated, plead its caufe in too eloquent a manner to be refilled . The roots of the Alh, no doubt, impoverilli the foil they occupy ; but fo do the roots of all other trees, in a greater or lefs degree. The quantity of heavy leaves annually Ihed by the Alli, and, con- fequently, the return of vegetable matter to the foil, may perhaps place it at leall on a level with its lefs exhaulling neighbours. We prefume, then, that the common Alh may be admitted into the fociety of its brethren, the gold-llriped, the filverllriped, the weeping, the entire-leaved and the curled, or its congener the Flowering-alh, in the park and in the lawn, without deviating from that propriety didated by a just taste. * The ♦ If,, however, the park or lawn be intended for the pas- ture of milch cows, for the making of butter, ash trees ought to be excluded. Cows eat tlie new-fallen leaves greedily ; and these gready affect the butter. Mr Miller says — * Nor should any ash trees be permitted to grow near » pasture grounds ; for If any of the cows eat of the leaves ♦ or shoots of the ash, the butter which is made of their « milk 7^ KINDS OF TREES, The Afh Is alfo much cried down as a hedge- TOW tree. Next to the oak and Scots elm, how- ever, it becomes thb most valuable in that cha- racier ; and, until the planting of hedge-row tim- ber be prevented (by flatute), we can fee no good reafon vvhy the Afh fhould be excluded. It is the total want of training hedge-row timber in Scot- land, (for fear, perhaps, of producing the horri- bly mangled and ugly poles to be feen all over England), which has brought hedge-rows into difrepute, more than any thing elfe. — But this fubjed we fhall have occafion to notice more fully afterwards. It is hardly neceflary to enumerate the qualities of afh-timber, and the ufes to which it is applica- ble. It may be noted, hov\'ever, that the afh pof- fefles a very fmgular property, namely, that oF being in perfeflion even in infancy, no other tree becoming ufeful fo foon. A pole, threfe inches in diameter, is as valuable and durable, for any purpofe to which it can be applied, as the timber of the largeft tree. The plough and cart wright, the * milk will be rank, or of litde or no value ; which is al- * ways the quality of the butter which is made about Guil- * ford, Godalmin, and some other parts of Surrey, where * there are ash trees growing about all their pastures ; so * that it is very rare to meet with any butter in those places * which is fit to be eaten : But, in all good dairy counties; ^ they never suffer an ash tree to grow. ' THEIR PROPERTIES, &C. 77 the coachmaker and the cooper, are the chief confumers of ash timber ; though, in many parts of the country, it is likewife ufed for various u- tenfils, and for fome articles of furniture. The ash affords, perhaps a greater quantity of potash than any other fort of timber in this country. The Mountain-Ash, or Roaii-tree of Scotland. (Sorbus aucuparia.) * This Is both a foreft and an ornamental tree ©f middle growth. It fhoots freely in almofl any fituation ; and if it (land fmgle, it acquires a fine head. It is an excellent nurfe to flow growing trees on bleak fituations. If it be planted in a grove, and be properly trained, it attains to a good fize. It is an excellent coppice plant, grow- ing fall, and being applicable to many purpofes. The timber of this tree has lately been found (owing, no doubt, to the fcarcity of other wood) to be ufeful for many purpofes to which it had not formerly been applied. It has long been ufed by the tanners and wheelwrights. It is now ufed for flooring, for cart-linings, for herring cafk ftaves, * Pyrus aiicttparia of Smith's Fl. Brit. 78 KINDS OF TREES, Haves, and other purpofes. Its poles and flioots are ufed as hoops. Its bark is employed by the tanner, along with the bark of the oak and birch, to the laft; of which it is little or nothing inferior. Its berries afford a good dye; and are ufed, along with the bark of the alder, in dyeing fome of the colours for tartan and other coarfe fluffs made in the Highlands of Scotland. The Beech. ( Fagiis sijh at tea. ) The Beech is an elegant tree of the fnil magni- tude ; and is univerfally allowed to be very orna- mental. When (landing fmgle, it acquires a fine head, and takes a beautiful outline. It is there- fore peculiarly well adapted to the decoration of the park. As a hedge-row tree, where fhelter is an objeft, it ftands unrivalled ; where ornament is an objecl, if properly trained, the fame thing might aimed be faid of it. In the grove, the Beech becomes tall, ftraight and clean, and of courfe affords the moft valuable timber, as it is required to be ftraight for every purpofe to which it is applied. Beech is much ufed in fhip building, for keels and for planking ; in hufliandry, for many pur- pofes ; in machinery, mill-work, and the like ; and THEIR PROPERTIES, ^C. 79 and for the tool-cutter, the cabinet-maker, and turner, it is in univerfal demand. It |nakes ex- cellent fuel, whether as faggots or billets ; and is much ufed for the making of charcoal, and for the fmoaking of herrings. The Purple Beech, is a fine ornamental vaiicty, and even promifes to become fie for the decoration x>{ the park, Although it has hitherto been chief- ly confined to the pleafure ground. A tree of the purple variety in the gardens of MeiTrs Teifords, within the walls of the ciiy of York, and another in the pleafure ground at Enviile-, hare afilimed fuch tree-like forms, each being fully thirty feet high, that fuch an expectation may reafonably be entertained; and the more efpecialiy, as weknowof feveral even in Scotland from twenty to thirty feet high. It muft however beobferved^ that the pur- ple beech plants, moil proper for the park or the lawn, or indeed for any fituation where it is required that they grow to a great fize, are fuch as are grafted or budded on the common fort. Thofe raifed by layers, grow more dwarf; and therefore fnould be planted in fituations where dwarf trees, or bufiies, arc reauired. tiiz So KINDS OF TREES, The Birch, or Birk, Scotland. (Belula alba.) The Birch is a well known, hardy, low growing tree, of a delicate and fragrant foliage. When growing fmgle, and in a fheltered fituation, it as- fumes a pleafmg form. The variety with pendulous branches, called the JVeephig- birch, is certainly a very elegant tree, and defirable wherever orna- ment is an object. Whoever has ftrolled on the banks of the Dee, in Aberdeenfliire, after a gentle fummer fliower, mufl have been delighted with the appearance, and regaled by the fragrance of the weeping-birches which decorate its banks. If planted in good foil, in the grove manner, and if properly trained, the Birch becomes a tim- ber tree of confiderable fize. It is an excellent coppice plant ; and is very generally found in that character in the Highlands of Scotland, and in many other parts of the country. Birch may be faid to be the univerfal wood of the Scots Highlanders. They make every thing of it ; they build their houfes of it j make their beds, chairs, tables, difhes, and fpoons of it ; conftrud their mills of it; make their carts, ploughs, har- rows, gates, and fences of it ; and even manu- fadure ropes of it ! Birch is alfo ufed in many other TH^fR PROPERTIEgi &C. 8"! Other parts of the country, in machinery, turnery, wheel-work, and for iafts, pattens, wooden fhoes, and fuch purpofes. It is likewife much ufed in coaleries, for props, and waggon-road fleepers. It is an excellent fuel, burning very clear, and emit- ting lefs fmoke than mod other woods. In the fmoking of herrings, in particular, Birch is pre- ferred to all other kinds of wood. The bark of the Birch is very aftringent, and affords a tan perhaps inferior only to that of the oak ; with which it is ufed in mixture, in many parts of the country. A vinous liquor, or juice, is extraded from it, called birch-wine ; it is drawn off by tapping the trees in fpring, or early in fum- mer. When properly manufactured, it makes a cooling, agreeable drink. Pallas, in his Flora Roffica, fays, that the well known and highly elteemed Ruffian leather owes its agreeable fmell to being anointed with an oil extracted from the Birch. He thus defcribes the procefs. " The oil is prepared from the white bark, either taken from the live tree, or colleded from thofe that are putrid in the woods. It is beft made from the latter ; becaufe by the putrefa6tion it is freed from the inner bark ; and the external white bark remains uncorrupted for ages, as appears by the old burial-places at Janifea, and the vaults of the very antient caflle of Mofcow, which I obferv- ed were covered with birch bark. The bark is F . gathered $2 KINDS OF TREES, gathered into a heap, and prefled into pits made in the fhape of a funnel, prepared in clay foil ; and when fet on fire, it is covered with turf. The oil, diftilling through the clay hole at the bottom of the funnel, drops into a veffel placed to receive it ; and it is then tunned into cafks made of the hollowed trunks of trees. The pure limpid oil fwims at top, and is in the greateft requeft for anointing leather on account of its antifeptic quali- ty. The refiduum is thick and footy, and is em- ployed for various common ufes. " The Cherry, or Gean, (Prunus avium.) The Wild Cherry, or Gean, is a well known, handfome, middle-fized tree, of peculiar beauty in fpring when in flower, and in Auguft when in fruit : In autumn, before its leaves begin to fall, they exhibit beautiful red and yellow colours. It 5s therefore very fit for the decoration of the park and the lawn. At the fame time it is a proper grove tree, and is admiflible in the foreft ; where indeed, as before obferved, it is often found grow- ing in a natural (late, having probably been fown by birds. There are two varieties of the Gean, the red, and the black fruited 5 but they differ in n9 THEIR PROPERTIES, &Co 83 no Other refpe^l. The large red, and the large black Geans, fo well known as fruit-trees in Scot- land, are fub. varieties of thefe improved by culture, and are only to be had by grafting or budding. The Wild Cherry grows to be a tree of very confiderable ftem, fo as to produce good fizeable boards and planks ; and its timber is beautiful, durable, and is ufed for many purpofes. By the cabinet-makers, in particular, it is ufed for chairs, tables and the like. It takes a fine pohfh, and, by a little ftaining, is made nearly to referable ma- hogany. The Chesnut. (Fagus castanea.) The Sweet or Spanifh Chefnut, is a flrlkingly grand tree of the firil magnitude. Whether we confider the rich appearance of its foliage when {landing fingle, the bold forms its branches take, or the general outline of the tree, it is a fuperb objeft, emulating, and even outftripping, the oak in thefe refpeds. It is therefore moil highly pro- per for the decoration of the park, and of the lawn. Many Chefnut trees, however, fliould not be planted clofe to a refidence, becaufe the flowers F 2 emit * In many parts of the country, it is called, by the ca- binet-makers, Scots Mahogany. 84 KINDS OF TREES, emit a very difagreeable odour which is offenfive to mofl: people. The timber of the Chefnut more nearly refem- bles oak in its appearance, than that of any other tree j and next to the afh, and the Scots elm, of the hard timber kinds, approaches it in value. It is exceedingly durable. The roof of Weftminfter Abbey, and that of the Parliament-houfe in Edin- burgh, are conftruded of it. The beams, roofing, &c. of many wooden houfes in Edinburgh, lately pulled down, and which had flood for ages, were found to be of Chefnut ; and, from the city re- cords, it appears that large oaks and chefnuts for- merly covered a place called the Borough-moor, about two miles to the fouth-welt of the city, where no trees now exift. Chefnut is ufed, befides, by the cabinet-maker, for various purpofes. For pipes to convey water under ground, it excels the elm, and perhaps e- quals the oak. It is more durable than the oak in the charader of gate polls, and (lands next to the yew and the larch in this refpedl, or wherever it is funk into the ground, and (lands licet and dry. In Italy and Spain, their wine calks are chiefly made of it ; and it is faid to poffefs the fingular property of not fhrinking, nor tinging wines or o- iher liquors put into caiks made of it. It is a good coppice tree ; and is very generally ufed in the hop counties for poles. Chefnut (lakes, for THEIR PROPERTIES, kc. 85 for fencing are alfo much ufed In the fouth, and are found very durable. Its bark is a flrong aftringent, and affords a tan equal to that of th^ larch and mountain-afh. The Horse-Chesnut. (^sculus UppocastanuTTu) This IS an elegant tree, of beautiful foliage and flowers; leafing more early in fpring, than moll others. It is a native of Afia, but grows freely in this country, and arrives at a great fize ; and, when Handing fmgle, takes a handfome form : Its flowers in fpring and its fruit in autumn, contrail:e4 with Its fine leaves, afford a pleafmg variety. The variegated kind, and the fcarlet-flowering fpecies,are much efteemed, * and are extremely ornamental. Indeed they are all merely ornamental trees, only fit for the park and the lawn. The timber of the Horfe-chefnut Is of lefs value, perhaps, than that of any other tree ; yet It has of late been applied to feveral purpofes, as a mat- ter of neceility, arifmg from the fcarcity and high price of other woods. It has been ufed in the building * The variegated sort is propagated by budding. The scarlet-flowering species {Msculus pavia) is also, in general, propagated by budding on stocks of the common horse- chesnut. 85' KfNDS OF TREES, building of temporary fhades and outhoufes, cattle {hades, &c. ; for the cleathing of ftone-carts, as it does not eafily fplinter or rag, Hke deal, though it will readily break over, if not of confiderable thicknefs ; and for lime boards, troughs, boxes and the like. The Elm. Ulmus montana, Scots Elm. Ulmus campesiris, Engiifli Elm. The Scots or rough-leaved Elm, is a deciduoug tree of very confiderable magnitude. It cannot, ftri6:ly fpeaking, be termed beautiful ; but cer- tainly an aged Elm, when {landing fmgle, is a very capital object. In the form of its branches, and its general outline, it much refembles the oak. Hence in many of the recently improved places in Scotland (where this tree chiefly abounds), it has been refer ved as an ornamental tree, and, in this particular, is an excellent fubftitute for the oak. Even where the oak and the chefnut abound, (as at Alva), the Scots Elm maintains its place, with excellent efl:e£l, as a park tree. In the grove, if properly nurfed and trained, it becomes a {Iraight, tall, and large.{lemmed tree. In hedge-rows, it becomes mofl: ufeful and durable timber. And in open woods, it naturally affumes many TH£iR PROPERTIES, Bcc, ^^ many fine cafls and forms for the purpofes of fhip- building and the like. In fhort, the timber of this tree is fo ufeful and valuable, that it is al- ways prized next to the oak. It is ufed by the ihipbuiider, the boatbuilder, the block and pump maker, the cart-wright, the cabinet-maker, and the coach-maker. In regard to the fine -leaved, or Englifh elm, we may firfl remark, that although there are many Englilh elms in Scotland, yet there are very few Scots elms, comparatively fpeaking, in England. In a late tour through mod of the counties of England, we hardly obferved a Scots elm after leaving Northumberland going fouthward, until we entered Cumberland returning northward. In- deed, it may be faid, that the rough-leaved, or Scots elm, of any ufeful fize, is to be found only on the north fide of the Tweed. The fine-leaved or Englifli elm is very orna- mental, when it Hands detached and free ; as, by the Thames, at Hampton-Court, at Bufliy, at Richmond, and by the high road, about halfway between Cheltenham and Tewksbury. It aftbrds an agreeable Ihade, (nearly equal to that of the lime), when formed into avenues ; as at Windfor, York, and Cheltenham. It may be a ufeful, but, as it is generally treated all over England, it is an ugly and difgufting hedge-tmbej\ Nothing cer- tainly can be more tirefome, in travelling through the 88 KINDS OF TREES, the flat counties, than the continual fucceflion of meagre elms like poles ; from whiqh we are now and then relieved by Lombardy Poplars ! which are worfeif poflible ; though occafionally, no doubt, by a much finer plant than either, ;he Elder. The timber of the Englifli, compared with that of the Scots Elm, as above diftinguifhed, is very inferior, both in durability and in value. In the fales of thefe timbers, the Englifli Elm, among good judges, feldom brings more than a half, or even a third part of the price of the Scots Elm, although both be of equal fizes and ages. Prejudice, no doubt, may have fome fliare in this matter ; but certainly the timber of the one is very inferior to that of the other. Indeed, if it be con- fidered, that the one fpecies is exceedingly hardy, and univerfally raifed from feeds, and that the o- ther may even be termed delicate, at leafl: in Scot- land, there can be little hefitation in determining which deferves the preference as a foreflt tree. The Englifli elm is too frequently reared from layers and fuckers ^ Thefe never make the bed trees ; and they always produce fuckers from their roots, and disfigure the grounds in which they {land. When intended as ornamental trees, for the park or the lawn, they ought to be budded, or grafted, on the Scots elm ; in this way, trees of fuperior vigour and figure would be obtained ; and which would never produce a fucker. Tiu: THEIR PROPERTIES, &C. 89 The Hawthorn. (Cratcpgus oxyacantha.') ^ The Hawthorn is to be found growing in moft places of the kingdom, we might fay of Europe, in various characters : — as underwood, in the fo- refl:, and in the park ; as a detached tree, or in groups, on the lawn j as a fhrub ; and as a fence. As underwood in the foreft, where it grows fpontaneously, it may rather be confidered as out of place, and a nuifance. In the park, if growing at the foot of, or near to a fine oak, it has an excellent efFeft. As a detached tree, if large and well formed, the Hawthorn never fails to pleafe. When cluftered in handfome groups on the lawn, Hawthorn-trees are very ornamental, particularly when in bloifom. As a fhrub, or a bufh over- hanging a rill, in a valley or dell, by the end of a mill, or the fide of a cottage, the Hawthorn ap- pears to great advantage. As a fence, when pro- perly trained, it is furpaffed by no plant whatfo- ever. The wood of the Hawthorn, when it arrives at the fize of a timber tree, is of the moft durable quality ; and is much in requefl for mill-cogs, and the like. The timber of the Hawthorn is often fpoiled * Mespilus oxyacantha, SmUh's Fl. Brit. 90 KINDS OF TREES, fpoiled through inattention after cutting. If it be allowed to lye in the tree, it foon heats and be- comes quite fru^h (brittle) and worthlefs : It there- fore ought to be inftantly cut up into planks and laid to dry. The Hornbeam. (Carpt7ius beiulus.) The Hornbeam, in its general appearance, very much refembles the beech, but it does not grow near fo large. It is not now, however, planted as an ornamental tree, and but feldom as a timber one, although it certainly deferves a place in the forcft. It is often planted as a fcreen, and as a fence ; to which offices it is well adapted; being very hardy, and retaining its leaves (like the beech) In a fhrivelled ftate, over winter. The timber of this tree is nothing inferior to the beech, for any purpofe to which beech is ufually applied ; and for fome purpofes, (as mill- work), it is far preferable. It makes good fuel, and affords excellent charcoal. In fome parts of England it abounds in natural copfes ; and forms an excellent cover for game ; and alfo produces good flakes for fences and the like. The 'THEIR PROPERTIES, &C. §1 The Laburnum (broad-leaved variety). (Cytisus lahurnum.') This has been much planted as an ornamental tree, and, in Scotland, even as a timber tree. It has a full claim to both characters. It is cer- tainly very beautiful when in flower, {landing fin- gle, and being allowed to form its own natural head ; or as a border tree around other planta- tions. In the grove, it may be trained to a fine ftem, of very confiderable fize. The timber of this tree is at prefent the mofl valuable, and high-priced, of any that grows in this country. There was a confiderable quantity of it fold, at Brechin- caftle and Panmure, in No- vember 1809, by public fale, at fully half a gui- nea per foot ! It was all bought by cabinet-makers ; who were as anxious to get the fmall and middle fized trees, as they were to have the large ones. Some of the above wood was very old, and large ; and in order to prevent any demur with refped to its quality, it was all cut down before the fale, and was found good, and found. * In 1806, at a public fale, a quantity was fold at 7s. 6d. a foot. The * It may be proper to notice here, that the Laburnum timber which brought so high a price, was of the varletj 92 kinds of trees, The Larch. (Pinus larix.') The Larch is a timber-tree of great beauty, magnitude, and value. Thofe of the largeft fize in this country, when Handing detached, and fome others of fmaller fize, are certainly highly ornamental. A grove, or a group of larch trees, forms a pleafing objed, at any period of their growth J when young they look exrremely gay ; when grown up, their fpiiy heads have a fine ef- fed, efpecially if contrafled with broad headed trees, rocks, or bold ground. In mixed planta- tions, the larch is confpicuous at every feafon, and very much enlivens the appearance of other trees. A plantation of firs has a fombre, and even a gloomy appearance, at fome particular fea- fons of the year. But if a few larches be fcat- tered on its borders, or a few groups be planted here and there, or if even its accidental blanks be called the Tree Laburnum ; the shrubby sort never arrives at any considerable size, and should never be planted as a forest, or even an ornamental tree ; being only fit for the shrubbery. The Tree Laburnum is easily distinguished from the shrubby, by the greater size of the leaves, and the superior length of the bunches of flowers. — See artick Ntineryi for September. THEIR PROPERTIES, &C. 93 be filled up with larches, the difference of efFeft will foon become perceptible, and the whole will be flrikingly altered for the better. The flation of the Larch may therefore be faid to be every where. It certainly, however, is mofl properly placed in the forefl, and in the grove. No tree is fo eminently qualified as the Larch, for the ofEce of a nurfe : In mofl fituations, even in very expofed places, and thin foils, it out- grows all other timber trees, for the firfl ten or twenty years after planting ; and if planted in fufficient numbers, in proportion to the principal trees to be nurfed, it affords them good fhelter ; while by its towering, it tends to draw them up for timber. * It will arrive at a timber fize in al- mofl any fituation or foil, (as already noticed), and, of courfe, it may with propriety be planted on the mofl broad and extended fcale. Certainly, had the vafl forefl trails, which have lately been planted with Scots Firs, in many parts of this country, been planted with Larches, at leafl in thofe * Objections have been made to the Larch as a nurse, from the circumstance of its leaning over upon the principal trees, in very exposed or windy situations. It is generally in consequence of being planted too sparingly, that it does so ; or it happens chiefly where the plantation is a mere stripe, or a patch. At any rate, by the time that nurse plants arrive at such a height as to be capable of bending «ver upon the principals, they should be removed. 94 KINDS OF TREES, thofe foils and fituatlons adapted for them, the properties would have been greatly enhanced in value, the Larch bearing the afcendancy over the Scots fir, in the following important circumftan- ces ; — that it brings double the price, at leaft, per meafureable foot ; that it will arrive at a ufeful timber fize, in one half or a third part of the time, in general, which the fir requires ; and a- bove all, that the timber of the Larch, at thirty or forty years old, is in every refpeft fuperior in quality to that of the fir at a hundred years old. In fhort, it is probable that the Larch will fuper- fede the Scots fir in moft fituations in this illand at no very diftant period. The general ufefulnefs of Larch timber is now- pretty well known, in moft parts of this country j it is therefore hardly neceflary to enumerate the purpofes to which it is applicable. It may be e- nough, perhaps, to ftate, that it is ufeful in fhip- building, in houfe-building, in hufbandry, for machinery, and in cabinet-making. It is exceed- ingly durable in any fituation 5 and perhaps more fo than any other timber, when placed under water, or in ground where it flands partly wet and partly dry. It is therefore mofl ufeful in the conftruftion of mill-dams, fluices, or the like ; for mill-cogs, gate-pofts, &c. ; in which latter cha- racter, the bark fhould be retained on the part to be funk, and an inch or two above the furface of THEIR PROPERTIES, kc 95 of the ground ; the bark of the Larch being al- jnoft incorruptible. Befides the great value and ufefulnefs of Larch timber, the tree pofleiTes other properties. Tur- pentine is extra£led from it ; its bark makes a good tan j and its wood forms an excellent, lad- ing fuel. The Lime. (Tilia Europcea.') The Lime is a well known, large growing, de- ciduous tree, of great beauty and fragrance when in flower. It is generally accounted a native of England. It is very ornamental, in all its varie- ties ; more efpecially the red-tivigged Liyne. The lime is to be found as a flandard, or as an avenue tree, about mofl: refidences of note in the king- dom. It is feldom planted in the grove ; but of- ten as a fcreen, in fmgle or double rows. The Lime is capable of aifording a very complete fhel- ter, and a mofl agreeable (hade ; and perhaps no tree is better adapted to the formation of an ave- nue, or a walk, near a refidence. Indeed, it has been preferred for thefe purpofes, by common confent, for more than a hundred years back. * It • An avenue may be made too broad to have a good ef- .^ect : That is te say, it may be made so spacious as e£Pec- tually g6 KINDS OF TREES^ is a very general and confpicuous lawn tree ; and in the park, it forms a fine contraft with the oak, the chefnut, the elm, and the fycamore. The timber of the Lime is chiefly ufed by the carver, and the turner. It has been of late ap- plied to the lining of carts, and to other pur- pofes in hufbandry. Being light, foft, and fmooth, it makes hay- rakes and fork- handles, which are better liked by female haymakers, than thofe of fir or a(h. Its charcoal is often ufed in the manu- facture of gunpowder ; and of its inner bark mace- rated in water, are made the bafs-mats fo much employed in the packing of goods. The Oak. (Quercus robur.) The Oak is fo generally known, and fo uni- verfally efteemed, that we fhall be very brief in our obfervations on it in this place. It is the pride tually to sink the height of its trees, even when full grown. The avenues at Castle-Howard, Stowe, Bushy, and some other places in England, have this defect. The Lime ave- nue at Taymouth, in Scotland, may be reckoned too narrow; but certainly it is very striking, and forms a grand Gothic canopy. Its trees would have met, although they had been planted twenty feet farther aparN 1 THEIR PROPERTIES, &C. 97 pride of the forefl, the glory of the Britifh Navy, and the ftay of the Nation ! The Oak is ornamental in the higheil degree, taking it as a ttee fimply, and abftraftly from any confideration of its great ufefulnefs. A young oak, if in health, is rather elegant ; a grown oak is beautiful ; and an aged oak is a very grand obje6t. It can hardly be placed wrong : it is in character in the foreft, the groVe, the park, the lawn, and by the wayfide. In very bleak, ex- pofed fituations, it will not attain to the fize of a tree, and efpecially when planted fmgle. When fmgle trees of oak are to be planted, it Ihould be done in their favourite foil, a ftrong deep loam, on a dry bottonio The Plane. (Plataniis orkntalis, and P. occidentalis.) Both of thefe fpecies, with their varieties, are fine ornamental trees. In their native places, the former in the Eaft, and the latter in North Ame- rica, they grow to an amazing fize. The Eaftern Plane, with its varieties, (called the Spanifh, and the maple-leaved), are more efteemed than the American kind, their leaves being larger and more elegantly formed. The general outline of the tree, however, differs but little. G Thefe 98 KINDS OF TREES, Thefe have hitherto been confidered merelij as ornamental trees in this country, having been chiefly confined to the decoration of grounds, and even but feldom planted in the park. The dif- aPa-cus cffeds of froft on the largeft American planes in England, thofe in Richmond Park, at Kew, at Sion Houfe, at Stovve, at Painhill, and feveral other places, has alarmed proprietors of this fine tree. It is evidently lefs hardy than the Afiatic plane ; becaufe, in many inftances, we have obferved trees of both fpecies Handing near each other j the Eaflern kind being nothing in- jured by the effeds of the frofl in 1809,* while the trees of the Weftern kind were either entirely killed, or fo much injured that their recovery was defpaired of. It is very fingular, that of this fpe- cies, the larger trees only were killed. Trees of from twenty to twenty-five feet in height, were little hurt ; and fmaller ones nothing at all ; at leafl in every inftance that came under our obfervation. We did not obferve or hear of a fingle * In the neighbourhood of London, in particular, in June 1809, a severe frost fell, which caused the above dis- aster. The trees were just breaking leaf; the foliage was killed ; they pushed late in the season ; an early autumn frost again destroyed their feeble shoots : their juices, there- fore stagnated. The trees made an cflfort to push in 1810 ; but, failing, finally languished, and died. THEIR PROPERTIES, &C. 99 fmgle Oriental plane being injured in any part of the country. The timber of the Plane, fo far as it is known in this kingdom, is faid very much to refemble that of the fycamore. The Poplar. (Poptilus alba, nigra, tremula, S^c.) Thefe are all very tall growing trees, * and are either indigenous to Britain, or naturalized to many parts of it. There are fome other fpecies planted, and, many varieties ; and they are all reckoned ornamental. As ornamental trees, how- ever, about the grounds of a refidence, they are only admiffible in low, wet fituations, where they luxuriate moft, and take the bed forms. In fuch fituations, even the Lombardy poplar is fuifer- G 2 able. * In the Reay wood at Castle-Howard, there are some of the largest black poplars that we have ever met with. One tree is twelve feet in girth, at four feet high, with a stem of at least sixty feet (measurable timber), and its total height about ninety. Another is as tall, and only nine inch- es less in girth. They grow on the north hang of a small hill, in deep, loamy soil. loo KINDS OF TREES, able. * A fwamp or morafs in a park, which it is not thought advifablc to drain, or otherwife im- prove, may be beautified by being planted with poplars, either in groups, or in mixture with willows, alders, and birch. On account of the quicknefs of its growth, the Poplar, even in a dry foil, and pretty high fituation, very foon be- comes a fcreen and a fhelter to flow growing plants. The timber of the White Poplar, or Abele, has always been efteemed the mofl valuable fort. It has been ufed in the flooring of rooms, in mill- work, by the turner and cooper, and is faid to be very durable. It takes a very fine polilh, and is often employed by the cabinet-maker. The tim- ber of the Black Poplar is perhaps little inferior. The bark of the Black is a ftrong aftringent, and a good tan. The wood of the Afpen-tree, or Trem- bling * Excepting near the cathedral at Dunkeld in Perthshire, we do not recollect of having seen a Lonibardy Poplar that could be looked upon witli any degree of pleasure. We think it a very ugly tree ; and the newly introduced Italian sort promises to be little else. Indeed, many have ventur ed to assert, that it is merely a play upon the vanity of pos- sessing new sorts which some people display, and is not really distinct from diose formerly cultivated. The preva- lence of poplars in the vicinity of London, and other places in England, is tiresome in the extreme ; and the monotony is nothing relieved by the accompanying tree, namely, the English elm sadly disforiir^d. THEIR PROPERTIES, &C. lOI bllng Poplar, Is much of the fame quality ; but feems fomewhat coarfer in the grain. We have known quantities of this laft-mentioned kind pur- chafed for the making of red herring cafks. The Sycamore, or Plane-tree of Scotland. (^Acer pseudo-plata7ius.) This is a timber tree of the firfl magnitude. It is highly ornamental ; and maintains its place, with great flatelinefs and boldnefs of outline, in the park and on the lawn. The variegated kind is extremely beautiful, and is admitted in all po- lilhed fcenery. The common kind is very fre- quently found {landing alone, or in fmall groups, about farms, cottages, mills and the like, of which it is an excellent accompaniment, and a protedion from the chilling blaft. It is alfo very frequently to be found about old ruins, and in hedge-rows and divifion-rows of fields, efpecially in Scotland. It is among the mod hardy of our trees ; and affords more fhelter, when grown up, than any other tree. It poflfeffes a fmgular pro- perty : it never Ihows what is called a weather side, even in the moft expofed fituations, on the fides of bleak hills. If it has been too clofely prefled, and been mifhapen by another tree, or a wall 3 102 KINDS or TREES, wall, It will, very foon after the removal of the obftrudion, aflume its own regular form, and become equally poifed. It is a very fit grove tree, and is now become a valuable one, as, in that charafter, it may be trained to a very long, clean, and large ftem, which is required for many purpofes in our large manufadories. It is an excellent nurfe plant, a- long with the Elder, in all fituations expofed to the fea-breeze. The timber is very much in requefl: for many parts of machinery and mill work ; for cotton printers' blocks ; for the turner, the cooper, and the cabinet-maker. Particular trees, for making rollers and fuch purpofes, have been fold as high as three half crowns a foot. In many parts of Scotland, fycamore timber brings a price next to the afh. The Walnut. (Juglans regia.) The walnut is well known as a fruit tree. It is a plant of beautiful and fragrant foliage, and has been very much planted as an ornamental tree, without regard to its fruiting. It is very fit for the decoration of the lawn, or for any ornamental plantation about a houfe. A grove of walnut trees, THEIR PROPERTIES, ^C. I03 trees, or a walnut orchard, is a very delightful thing in the grounds of a place. In the view of rearing the walnut for timber, it fhould always be planted in the grove manner ; becaufe it does not otherwife rife with a good or a tall ftem. The fined walnut trees perhaps in the country, have been drawn up in a mixed grove plantation, until they arrived at a good fize. The timber of the walnut is very valuable. It is ufed in cabinet -making ; but, above all other woods, it is in demand for the making of gun- ftocks. Indeed, fo much has it lately been in re- queft for this purpofe, and fo great a price has been paid for it, that but comparatively few large walnut trees are now to be met with in the coun> try. The Willow. (Salh alba, Russeliana, fragilis, cinerea, caprea.) There are many fpecies of the Willow ; and fome of them very ornamental. The mod con- fpicuous, and which grow to a tree fize, are the Huntingdon, which we prefume to be the fame with the White Willow (Salix alba) ; the Bedford Willow (S. RulTeliana) ; the Crack Willow (S. fragilis) ; the Grey Willow (S. cinerea) > and the great round-leaved Sallow (S. Caprea). To thefe may 104 KINDS OF TREES, may be added, the Red-twigged Willow formerly mentioned. As ornamental plants of lower growth, the Rofe Willow (S. helix), the Sweet or bay-leaved (S. pentandra), and the Golden Willow (S. vitel- lina), may be mentioned. All of thefe, excepting the Red-twigged, are natives : fome foreign fpe- cies arc likewife of an ornamental kind, particu- larly the Weeping Willow (S. Babylonica), which is a native of the Eafl. None of the fpecies, however, tower fo fad, or become fo ufefiil, as the Huntingdon, the Bedford, and the Red-twigged. ^ Were the Huntingdon not fo very common, and fo frequently met with in low or mean fcenery, it might, perhaps, be reckoned more ornamental than many of the other kinds. They certainly are very elegant plants while young, and in middle age : and if nor piclurefque when grown old, yet, there is fomething very ftriking in their hoary and reverend appearance. The • The Huntingdon is the most common willow pollard in England ; few grown trees of it are to be seen in that country ; while, in Scotland, many very large trees are frequently to be met with. The barbarous custom of pol- larding trees has not yet made very wide strides in the North ; and it is to be hoped tlaat it never will : however, we felt a good deal vexed on lately seeing some fine oaks and beeches decapitated, both as standards and in the grove; and many pruned, mangled, and rumped up, to ♦* make them look English-like. " THEIR PROPERTIES, kc, IC5 The moft natural fituation for the willow Is in low moift ground by the fides of rivers, brooks, lakes, &:c. ; and many of the kind, by the light- nefs of their branches, and the elegance of their foliage, being planted in groups or in mixture with other aquatics, give much life and beauty to fuch fcenery. The willow, how-ever, efpecially the Huntingdon, will grow and thrive well in higher and drier grounds : and if this kind were planted in the grove manner, perhaps, no other plantation, excepting larches, would give fo quick a return for the trouble and expenfe of planting. It is an excellent coppice wood, grows extremely fall, and is very valuable. It is likewife an ex- cellent nurfe to other plants placed in humid fi- tuations, as in fuch it outgrows all other trees. The timber of the willow is ufed in turnery, ia mill work, in coopery, for boarding, Sic. ; the ftronger (hoots and poles ferve for making hoop:? and handles ; and the twigs are employed in wick- er work. The bark of the Huntingdon Willow has lately been found to be a tan equal in value to that of the birch or the mountain-afli. This kind mufl:, therefore, as faid above, be a moft valuable cop- pice wood, on account of its rapid growth. The bark of the Bedford Willow is of equal value as a tan. Charcoal of the Sallow (Salix caprea) is a chief ingredient 10$ KINDS or TREES, ingredient in the manufadure of gunpowder ; and plantations of it, for that purpofe, have been found very profitable. The ftools which are ufed in this nianufa6:ure are from ten to fifteen feet in length, and generally about an inch in diameter when peeled ; fo that the plantation would require to be made in very good foil, in order to have them produced of thefe dimenfions. ^ The Balm of Gilead Fir. (^Finus halsamea.') This is an American fpecies, and is elleemed a very ornamental evergreen tree. Its appearance is like that of the filver-fir j from which it is, a- mong other circumfiances, diflinguifhed by the fragrance of its leaves. It may be confidered a lawn tree •, and as fuch, if planted in good deep foil, and allowed a fufficiency of room, it will take a fine form, and arrive at a good fize. A more fit fiation for this plant, however, is in a fcreen plantation near the houfe ; or on the mar- gin of a grove ; or in a grove by itfelf, unmixed with other trees. The timber of this tree is of a quality equal to that of the filver-fir ; and it produces turpentine, it is faid, of a more balmy and fragrant nature. The ♦ For some account of the kinds of willows fit for basket- work, &c. and of tlie formation and management cf osier plantations, see Appendix No. 1. THEIR PROPERTIES, &C. I07 The Silver-Fir. {Finns picea.) This is a very tall growing, well known tim- ber tree. When allowed a fufficiency of room, and to take its own natural outline, it is a very beautiful object, of a fine conic form. In this cafe, there is fomething in its appearance which gives an idea of great (lability ; it feems to be placed on a firm bafe, Its ftem and general out- line tapering, in uniform proportion, to a fum- mit at a vaft height. But it is a tree of a very different appearance when haggled, lopped, and pruned of its lower branches ; for, if thefe fall not down to the turf, its grandeur is in a great meafure loft. The Silver-fir may therefore be confidered as an ornamental grove tree of much value. It is certainly an excellent fcreen, and a more fit, and more handfome plant for that purpofe, near a re- fidence, than the common fpruce. It is a tree abundantly hardy for the forefi: ; and, next to the larch, its timber becomes the mod valuable of refmous woods. * In * In July 1810, we saw several very large logs of Sil- ver-fir, at Woburn, from trees which had been cut out of the park there. They struck us as being the finest native timber we had ever seen ; superior, at least in appearance, to the native Highland fir of Scotland.-— The soil about Woburn is light and sandy. |08 KINDS OF TREES, In Switzerland, the Silver-fir grow? naturally to a wonderful fize, and is efteemed among the moft valuable of their trees. From it is extraQ:ed turpentine, of a quality fuperior to that extracted from the larch. American Spruce Fir. (Pinus nigra ^ alba.) TheBlack and the White American Spruce have hitherto been ufed merely as ornamental trees. The v/hite is much more vigorous in its growth than either the black or the red ; and is eafily diflinguifhed from either of thefe by its vigour, and lighter appearance. The black aflumes a deeper green colour than the preceding, and is lefs luxriant in its growth. The red more nearly refembles the black, only the foliage is finer, and the branches more ilender. They have all hither- to been ufed in the flirubbery and on the borders of finely ornamental plantations, where they may be always in view ; and they never fail to pleafe in fuch ftations. They are beautifully ornament- al, as fingle trees of low flature, in flieltered fpots, in the park or the lawn. Whether thefe will ever arrive at the fize of {lately timber trees in this country, time only can determine. THEIR PROPERTIES, &C. I09 determine. But the method which fome follow in raifing the black and red kinds by layers, cer- tainly is the moft efFedtual means which can be purfued to bring them into contempt as trees. This method of raifmg plants may anfwer where they are wifhed only to form low-growing fhrubs, but never for making trees. Thofe which are in- tended for growing to trees fhould be raifed only from feeds. The Common, or Norway Spruce Fir, (JPiiius abies.) This is a very hardy foreft tree of confiderable value. It is the loftieft of European trees. It has certainly, however, but few pretenfions to the title ornamental. Next to the Lombardy poplar and the Scots fir, we think it the lead fo. This tree fhould never be planted, excepting in maffes or groves by itfelf ; other wife its tim- ber is fo coarfe and knotty, that it is hardly worth working : But in the mafs way, if planted thick, and properly pruned and thinned afterwards, it may be trained to tall clean timber. The white deal, or Memel fir, fo long, and hitherto fo plentifully, imported from the Baltic, is the produce of this tree ; and therefore the va- lue of its timber cannot be queftioned. In Den- mark, Sweden and Norway, it is grown thick in natural no KINDS OF TREES, natural forefts, or planted groves ; and hence its length and cleanneis of ftem. But the use and the plaiiting of this fir, in this country, may be faid to be fuperfeded by the introduction of the larch, fave in peculiar fituations. This tree, it may be proper to obferve, produces that necefTary article Pitch. The Pinaster, (^Pinus pinaster,') This is a foreft tree of very confiderable fize ; and found, efpecially on the weftern fhores of Scotland, to be very hardy. It might therefore, if properly managed, perhaps he fuccefsfully ufed as a nurfe for other more valuable kinds. It fends out more rampant arms than even the Scots fir ; v/hich would therefore require to be lopped timeoufly, or before they could injure the princi- pal plants. Some even plant this fir with a view to orna- ment. But an old pinafter, which never has been curbed or pruned, certainly looks fomewhat fan- taftical. The Scots Fir, or Wild Fine. (Finus STjIvestris.) Next to the Grampian birch and mountain forb, perhaps, this is our mod hardy foreft plant. It THEIR PROPERTIES, &C. Ill It has, at leaft, been efleemed fo tiil of late ; but another, of a finer form, and much higher value, has been found ; namely, the Larch. The Scots fir muft, however, flill be confidered as a valu- able plant on very expofed fites and pecuHar foils, efpecially as a nurfe. As nurfes for rearing oaks from feeds, Scots firs are ufed with good ef- feft, as well as in many other refpedts. The value of the Highland fir of Scotland is well known, as being not inferior to any import- ed into this country, either in cleannefs or dura- bility, where it has been grown under favourable circumftances, on its proper foil, and to a fufficient age. Owing to the fcarcity, and high price of foreign timber of late years, the demand for High- land fir has very much increafed. Indeed, the high price given, has been the caufe of much premature felling ; and many of the Scots natu- ral forefts are now very much lelTened in extent by the operation of thefe caufes. The 'planted^ Lowland Scots fir, is feldom ap- plied to offices higher than that of roofing of (hades or hues ; lining of carts ; lathing, or making of packing-boxes : But were this tree, even the com- mon variety, cultivated with more care, it certain- ly would become more valuable timber. But we feldom fee the fmalleft care beftowed upon its cul- ture. Everywhere, almoft, the trees are unpruned; the dead branches are left (licking in their places ; I and lit KINDS OF TREES, and the trees thus allowed to increafe their dia- meters over them ; fo that, when they are felled, the timber is condemned as worthlefs. A con- trary, and more rational, fyftem of management would evidently place this ufeful plant in a more favourable Ration, than prejudice will at prefent allow it. If once the red wood variety were fairly difcovered, and generally cultivated, the Scots fir U'ould rank amongft our mod valuable timber trees. We have feen this variety at Cariftoun and Brechin-Caflle, and other places in the north. It may be proper to notice, that pitch is extrad- ed in great abundance from the Scots fir. The Weymouth Pine. (Pinus Strobus.) This is an elegant tree ; and it grows to a very great fize. It is admilTible in all ornamental plan- tations, either in groups, or on their borders. In fheltered fituations, it becomes a fine looking fingle tree. In the grove, however, it is fure to become moft valuable j and it fhould, like all o- ther pines and firs, in this point of view, be plant- ed by itfelf, not in mixture with any other fort of wood. In America, this is, perhaps, the moft valuable of the pine or fir kinds. It grows to a very great length and fize in New England, and other pro- vinces •, from whence vaft quantities (with the fpruce) is imported; and now more than ever, perhaps. THEIR PROPERTIES, &C« III perhaps, on account of our connexion with the Continent being in a great meafure cut off. It leems, however, to be a plant of fo delicate a ha- bit, as to prevent our expecting it ever to become fo large or fo valuable a tree with us, efpecially in expofed fituations. The Cedar of Lebanon, {P'mics Cedms.) This has always been efteemed an ornamental tree, and, we believe, has only been planted as fuch in this kingdom. The fineft we know of are at Stow, * Pains-hill, and Blenheim. There are none fo large as thefe in Scotland, though fe- veral of a pretty large fize are to be found in that country. We need not attempt the rearing of it merely as a timber tree. Its growth is fo flow with us, that, although its wood, when obtained, is abun- dantly durable, yet, even then, it would feem to be fully equalled by other kinds, which are far more readily and eafily reared, as the Larch. H The * The largest Cedar at Stow, in 1810, measured, at 4- feet above the surface, 1 2 feet in girth ; — the stem 40 feet to the cleft ; and total height, by estimation, 65 feet :— -it Is said to have been planted about 90 years ago. 114 KINDS OF TRE£3y The Holly. {Ilea: aguifblium.) The Holly is one of the mofl ornamental trees. It is alfo one of the nioft hardy. Befides the common green holly, there are many of its beau- tiful varieties, whi :/> arrive at a tree fize, and are peculiarly adapted to the decoration of the lawn. In all ornamental plantations they claim a confpi- cuous place. There is fomething' fo extremely cheerful in the Holly, particularly late in autumn, and in winter, that, wherever it appears, it never fails to command attention, and to pleafe. The common Holly is often found growing na- turally in woods and forefts, as an underwood to the oak, the afh, and the fir ; * in which fituation it appears to great advantage, giving much variety to the fcene. It is, therefore, a mod fit under- wood for the park ; — an appropriate accompani- ment * The greatest collection of natural Hollies, we ever re- collect to have seen or heard of, grew in the fir forest of Blackhall, on the river Dee, about 20 miles above Aber- deen. Many of them were very large and well stemmed. The greater part of this forest has been cut ; — the Holly timber which grew in it was sent to London, and a very high price was obtained for it. Probably the name Holly- haiiki at Gordon-Castle, points at the existence of such a forest long agn. THEIR PROPERTIES, &C. II5 ment to the oak, the chefnut, and other park trees. It is alfo very proper to be planted by the fides of walks in the grove ; few plants thriving better in the (hade of other trees. Many of the varie- gated kinds do equally well in fuch fituations, though their colours do not appear fo ftriking as when expofed. The timber of the Holly is very valuable. It is chiefly ufed in inlaying and fineering, and by turn- ers : — it is almoft as white as ivory. Birdlime is made from the bark of holly. The Yew. (^Taxiis baccata.) The Yew is found native in different parts both of England and Scotland. As an ornamen- tal tree, it is lefs in repute than it has formerly been. Neverthelefs, it will be allowed that an aged Yew is a ftriking and interefting objed. It arrives at a great fize, and lives for many centu- ries. Whoever has feen thofe at Fotheringall and Kincardine in Perthfhire, and at Himly- hall in StafFordfhire, will allow an aged yew to be a very pidurefque tree. The Yew has been cried down as a ftandard in pafture grounds, on account of the poifonous na- ture of its leaves ; but this is not a fufficient reafon for entirely difcarding it, fmce a tree or two might H 2 be I 10 KINDS OF TREES, be always kept particularly well fenced. We know, however, of many yew trees without fen- ces in paftures ; and alfo, hedges, which are uni- formly browfed on by fheep and cattle. Goats are particularly fond of yew leaves ; yet we never knew a beait to die in confequence ; or even met with any perfon who could fay, that they had knov;n a bead to die in confequence of having eaten the leaves of the yew from growing trees or hedges.* The Yew is certainly admiflible on the lawn, and ♦ Mr Marshall, speaking of this matter, says, — " It is observable, that, in the extensive yew plantations above mentioned, cattle were admitted with impunity, and still range amongst the stragglers that are left, without any evil consequence. They are browsed to the very bole : — Sheep are particularly fond of the leaves ; and, when the ground is covered with snow, will stand upon their hind legs, and devour them as high as they can reach. " But, notwithstanding of sheep and goats eating with im- punity the growing leaves, it would be very unsafe to allow this circumstance to induce us to be careless about their eating its leaves when clipped off. — Mr Hanbury relates a story of seven or eight cattle having died in consequence of having eaten the half-dried clippings of a yew tree, or hedge, which a gardener had thrown over the wall ; by which it would appear that the leaves and twigs, when dried, or half dried, and when taken into tlie stomach in considerable quantities, have a very different effect from Avhat they have, when taken in small quantities when green. 11/ and in ornamental plantations. It makes an ex- cellent, clofe, effedual, and permanent fcreen ; and, if properly trained, will rife to a very confi- derable height. A grove of yew trees, in a re- clufe corner, would be a folemn pafTage in the grounds of a place. As the cyprefs in the Eafl, the yew in Britain has been appropriated to the decoration of facred ground from time imme- morial. It is therefore a fit accompaniment to the temple and the maufoleum. * The timber of the Yew is very valuable ; but was much more fo formerly than it is nokv. It was of the Yew, chiefly, that our archers made their bows ; befides which, Mr Evelyn fays, — " The artifts in box, cabinet-makers, and inlay- ** ers, gladly employ it: — alfo for the cogs of mills, " pods to be fet in moiil grounds, and everlafling *' axletrees, there is none to be compared with it. " Mr* Marfhall mentions a number of yew trees having been cut, in the neighbourhood of Box- hill * How much would that grand edifice, the Mausoleum at Castle-Howard, have been improved in appearance, a.t this time, had the builder of it planted about it some yews and eedar trees ? Certainly this has been overlooked, or neglected, by some accident. Every thing is othei-wise done in great style (as it is termed) at this place ; and, certainly, the propriety of connecting this building more immediately with wood of some kind, must have struck the ereat Howard. 115 RIND3 OF TREICS, &C. hill in Surry, of a very large fize ; and that they were fold to the cabinet-makers, at very high prices, for inlaying ; that one, in particular, was valued at a hundred pounds Sterling — the one half of which did aclually fell for fitty pounds ; and that the leaft valuable trees were cut up into gate-pofts, which are expefted to lafl for ages. Siicr, VALUE OF TIMBER. 110 SECTION VL On the Value of Timber, and the Advan- tages TO BE DERIVED FROM PLANTING, 1 HAT Timber is of the utmoft importance to mankind, both in the favare and civUized ftate, has been fully exempufiefl in the hiPiory of every quarter of the globe. The foliage of thick forefts afforded flielter to the ignorant and nake-:' inha- bitants of thefe Iflands at a remote period ; and at this moment, in Tome parts of the world, the natives have no other flielter. Experience and neceflity, in due time, taught our forefathers to conflrufl huts of trees, both to defend th^ni fiom the attacks of deftroying animals, and to afford flielter from the inclemency of the feafons. The fame powerful , agents gradually inftrufted their children to apply their trees to more elevated and noble purpofes j till, at the prefent day, they have become, in the form of a triumphant Navy, the means of exalting thefe Iflands to :. height of glory unrivalled in the hiftory of the world. Daily experience teaches us, that Timber is a moH ncceflary, ufeful, and valuable article in com- mon I30 VALUE GE TIMBER. mon life. Indeed, without it, we would be near- ly as deftitute as we fhould be without food or raiment. Timber, therefore, is equally neceffary to our private comforts, and to our exiftence in a national point of view ; — befides, wood is to the country as clothing to the body. By the proper management of wood, the feats of the great arc embelliflied in an eminent degree ; — towns and villages are beautified, and our fields are fhel- tered. The advantages to be derived from fubdividing extenfive trads of barren country by plantations, are evidently great, whether confidercd in the light of affording immediate fhelter to the lands, or in that of improving the local climate. The fact, that the climate may be thus improved, has, in very many inftances, been fufficiently eftablilh- ed. It is, indeed, aftonifhing how much better cattle thrive, in fields even but moderately fhel- tered, than they do in an open expofed country. In the breeding of cattle, a fheltered farm, or a fheltered corner in a farm, is a thing much prized; and, in inftances where fields are taken by the feafon, for the purpofe of fattening them, thofc moft fheltered never fail to bring the higheft rents, provided the foil be equal with that of the neigh- bouring fields which are not fheltered by trees. If we inquire into the caufe, we fliall find, that it does not altogether depend on an early rife of grafs, VALUE OF TIMBER. 121 grafs, on account of the fhelter afforded to tiie lands by the plantations ; but, likewlfe, that car- tie which have it in their power, in cold feafons, to indulge in the Idndly fhelter afforded them by the trees, feed better ; becaufe their bodies are not pierced by the keen winds of fpring and au- tumn ; neither is the tender grafs deftroyed by the frofty blafts of March and April. But, in- deed, fhelter is not more ufeful in cold feafons, than the (hade of trees is gratifying to cattle in hot ones. In an expofed, open field, under a burn- ing fun, the torture which cattle often endure is truly diftrelling. It may be argued, that the dcfirable effects of ftieher and (hade may both be obtained, by fimply planting fingle rows of trees in the divifion hues, or around the fides of fields. This is granted, in many cafes, where the land is good ; but in fitu- ations more expofed, even with tolerably good foil, the rearing of fmgle trees is a matter of great difiiculty. But it may jullly be faid, that, even in the beft of lands, by planting a flripe or belt of a moderate breadth, and keeping the fields of a good fize, there would not, ultimately, be anv ground loft to the purpofes of hufbandry. When the trees were paft being injured by the browfmg of the cattle, the fences might be thrown open ; and, the plants being properly thinned out, the pafturage under them would be found early, and the 122 VALUE OF TIMBER. the fhelter and fhade mofl; valuable. Even the corn farmer, in many inftances, might be very much bettered by planting. Whether his farm be fituated on the plain, or on the fide of a hill, if deftitute of wood, it is pronounced, by common confent, a bare, cold looking place. Certainly a fpirit for planting has other objects in view than that of increafmg the quantity of arable ground. — All that we propofe is to advife the making of ufeful plantations : And he is furely a fhortfighted proprietor, who would grudge the planting of fuch a part as fhall evidently benefit the reft by a moderate and convenient flielter, — even fuppo- fing the lands to be, what rarely can happen, fole- ly appropriated to tillage ; for, furely, under good management, in many cafes the arable farmer muft occafionally become a feeder ; and then he muft neceffarily be fenfible to the good effeds of planting, in common with the breeder and gra- zier, as in the cafes adverted to above. It is very generally known, that fuch eftates as have a quantity of well arranged, healthy timber upon them, when brought to fale, bring an extra price, according to the quality and value of the wood, not only at the time of fale, but, counting forward on its value, to a diftant period.. Thus, fuppofmg the half-grown timber on an eftate to be valued at ten thoufand pounds at the time of the fale, inftances are to be found where thirty thoufand VALtJE OF TIMUEll, 12^ ihoufand pounds have been given, over and above the valuation of the lands. The purchafers of fuch eftates wifely forefec the increafe of value which will arife from healthy timber growing, where it may not only be che- riftied till of full maturity, but where, probably, it can then be turned to the bed advantage, by reafon of its local fituation. But, befides the real value of growing timber, there is moft gene- rally an ideal value attached to it, namely, that of its ornamental appearance. The adual profits arifing from planted timber, we have known, in feveral inftances, to be very great ; and, probably, in none would it fink, in eighty or an hundred years, below what could have been procured from the land in name of rent, provided the trees be well managed. One inftance lately came under our obfervation, where a plantation of an acre and a half of fycamores, of 60 years {landing, was offered to be purchafed, at the rate of 14I. per acre per annum fince the time of planting ! — and, perhaps, this fame land would not, at an average, have rented at 30s. per acre J3«' annum ! Other inftances might be ad- duced, where the profits of planting have been re- markably confpicuous. Thefe profits, however, muft vary, in every county and diftridl of the kingdom, according to the quality of the foil, local circumftances, and the like. Every pro- ' prieto? 124' VALUE OF TIMBER. prietor who has ever cut an acre of timber, or of underwood, and who has rightly confidered the value, for a given time, of an adjoining acre of the fame quality, which has been employed in agriculture, and has experienced an ordinary ma- nagement, muft, in fome meafure, be fatisfied of the relative value of a crop of trees. * The importance, however, of planting, and of cultivating the timber which is already planted, as adverted to in the Introdu6lion, muft appear fo manifeft, and is an employment at once fo rea- fonable, fo profitable, fo pleafmg, and fo honour- able, that it carries its own recommendation along with it : it barely requires to be hinted to the lover of his country. * See Tables of the value of timber in Appendix. Janu- JANUARY. Jan.'] THE NURSERY. 1 27 THE KALENDAR ^anuari?. THE NURSERY. OF LAYING OUT A NEW NURSERY. With refped to the proper fituations and foils for a Nurfery, we have been particular in Sect. I., to which we beg leave to refer the reader. We have alfo noticed the methods of fencing, and of fubdividing the ground by breaking hedges ; and the neceflity of effeftually draining it of ftagnant and fuperabundant water. If the weather be open, and the ground be mo- derately dry, this is a very proper feafon for trenching j an operation very generally indifpenf- able 128 THE NUPvSERY. [/dfW. able in the laying out of a new Nurfery. In this bufinefs, much precifion is neceflary. In ordinary- cafes, it will be proper to trench the ground to its full depth, fuppofmg the upper foil or veget- able earth to be about twenty inches or two feet deep ; but in no cafe is it proper to trench up crude, unmeliorated foil, in the preparation of a feminary. Indeed, nothing could be more fatal to the raifmg of feedlings, or even to the nurfmg of them when raifed. For the firft purpofe, it is important that the foil be rich, mellow, and very fine ; and for the fecond, that it be at leaft mel- low, and homogeneous. In the trenching, therefore, it will be neceffary to obferve to turn up none of the fubfoil, or poor under ftratum ; and to be particular in making the trenches of an equal breadth and depth, more efpecially if the ground be inclined to wetnefs : for if galls be left between them, the water will flagnate below, and very much injure the crop. If the ground be broke out from the ley, the turf fhould be well broken, and be buried in the bot- tom ; and in any cafe, as, if it be ftubble ground or the like, the foil fliould be well mixed, and be made fme with the fpade. The furface, however, at this time, fhould be left rough, that it may be rendered the finer by the adion of the weather, before being cropped. It will very rarely happen, that ground broken I out. Jan.'] THE NURSERY. I29 out, either from ley or ftubble, can be in fit con- dition for tree feeds, efpecially of the finer and more deh'cate kinds, the fame feafon. The bed preparation is a light fallow crop of efculents ; fuch as lettuce, fpinage, or turnip. Potatoes, we may remark, fhould never precede tree feeds. The ground fhould be well manured for fuch crops, and often hoed in the courfe of the feafon, in order not only to clean, but to meliorate and render it fine. When fuch crop comes off, the ground fhould immediately be ridged up, that it may be ftill further meliorated. It may be fit to be fown by autumn or fpring, according to the kinds of trees to be raifed j but if it lye over win- ter, the ridges fhould be again levelled in Novem- ber, in order to give the ground a new furface. Even for the reception of feedlings, fuch a pro- cefs as the above is commendable ; although, if the ground be in pretty good heart, they will fuc- ceed very well after fufHcient trenching and a win- ter fallow. In cafes, therefore, where it is not intended to prepare the ground by an efculent crop, it fhould be trenched the earlier — before winter. It is hardly neceffary to remark, that in laying out a Nurfery, whether fimply as fuch, or as a field garden and nurfery combined, it will be proper to have a broad walk, or cartway, to pafs through the ground, and perhaps alfo to crofs it, I befides 130 THE NURSERY. [Jj7Z. befidcs the neceflary alleys round the fences, and betvvt^en the quarters, in order that manure may be the more readily carried in, and the crops car- ried out. This road or walk may be grafs ; but, if ivietailed and gravelled, it would give lefs trou- ble in keeping. We have obferved that the ground fliould be fenced in fuch a manner, as to exclude hares and rabbits. With this view, a wall appears to be the mod immediate and effectual fence. A fmall funk fence, with a hawthorn hedge at top, may anfwer very well, and may be found advantageous in cafes where much draining is requifite. If a hawthorn hedge be planted on the plain furface, it will require to be clofe paled, and to be kept fo for feveral years, and, of courfe, would be very expenfive. Few growing hedges will exclude rabbits, unlefs guarded at bottom by pales, or by a footing wall. The gates of the nurfery fhould be clofe, at leafl: at the bottom part, and fhould be fubftantially hung. OF DIGGING AND TRENCHING VACANT GROUND, &C. In an eflablilhed Nurfery, whether fimply fo, or occupied partly as a kitchen garden, there ne- ceflarily will, by this time of the feafon, be many fpots cleared from the crops of laft year. If thefc have not yet been trenched, digged, or ridged up, it Jan.'] THE NURSERY. I3I it fhould now be done without delay. Ground which has been ridged in September or October, fhould now be levelled flat ; and ground, which was then digged plain, fliould now be ridged up. Nothing is more important in the ferainary, than a working of the Ibil when out of crop. Al- thougli, in mofl: cafes, it is proper that it be mo- derately rich, it is of greater importance, in any cafe, that it be verij Jine, than very rich. It is not advifed, however, that this work be carried on in wet weather, or in time of fnow, or when the ground is in a ftate which may be termed •wet ; at which time it v/ould, indeed, be very prejudicial. OF DIGGING THE ROWS OF NURSERY STANDING OVER YEAR, TAPPING THE ROOTS, AND PRUNING THE PLANTS. This is a moft neceffary duty towards plants which are to remain in the Nurfery lines for one or more years longer. If the ground be mode- rately dry, this is a proper feafon for performing the work of digging between the rows j if not, it may be deferred till next month. Previous to digging between the lines, the plants fhould be gone over, and pruned of their ftrong competing^ or lateral, branches only. A leading ihoot, of the mofl promifmg appearance, fhould I 2 be 1^2 THE NURSERY. I^ja7t^ be fingled out, if pofTible, for each plant ; and a number of the fmall twigs fhould be left regularly difpofed on the ftem, in order to detain the fap, and to make it circulate more equally through the whole plant. It will feldom happen that it would be improper to cut off all the competing branches from a nursling ; but in fome cafes it may be pro- per to fiiorten fome of them only. The above is to be underftood of the deciduous, or hard wood kinds : the fir kinds, while in a flate of nurfing, will require nothing more than the removal of one of their leaders, when they happen to have two, which will very feldom be the cafe. When it does happen, however, the ftrongeft of courfe iliould be left : Barely pinching off the top of the weakeft with the finger and thumb, is perhaps th^beft method of pruning in the prefent cafe. Two-year feedling Oaks, Chefnuts, Walnuts, or Beech, which have been fown in drills, and which are intended to remain for another feafon in their prefent fituation, * Ihould, together with fuch # This method of treating two-year seedlings, is only admissible in cases where there is too much labour to be performed. Lifting the plants entirely, and replanting them, is far preferable ; because it is more in our power to prune and trea,t them properly, when lifted, than other- wise. Ift the other case, the trees should have been planted out in Jan.'] THE NURSERY. l^^ inch of the fame kinds as have already flood two feafons in the lines, and which are intended to remain another feafon longer, be tapped; that is to fay, their tap roots fhould be cut about eight inches below the furface. This is moil efFeclual- ly and readily done by two men with (harp fpades ; one rutting, or cutting the ground obliquely with his fpade, on each fide the line at once, and exactly C;Ppo(ite to the other. After this operation has been performed, the plants fhould be made firm, by a perfon treading the rows with a foot on each fide. Thefe kinds, fo tapped, will, in the courfe of the following feafon, in confequence of being thus root-pruned, or tapped as it is called, pufli many more fibres on the upper part cf their roots, than ihey otherwife would have done; and thus will the plants be better fitted for being tranfplanted into ihallow foils, or indeed into any foil, than they would have been by being allowed to remain in the ground untapped till the time of lifting. The interflices of all rows intended to ftand an- other year, fliould be neatly pointed over with a narrow fpade ; or, if the roots be much matted, (as is the cafe with feveral kinds), a fmall three- pronged fork is to be ufed ; taking care, by all means, in the forest at the age of two years transplanted, but v/ould probably be very much the worse for remaining m ■v^e lines another year without being tapped. 1^4 THE NURSERY. [Jiz«. means, not to injure the fibrous roots if pofTible. It need hardly be noticed, that the ground fhould be cleaned of all loofe twigs, and grafs or other weeds, before the operation of pointing with the fork. OF LIFTING PLANTS FOR PLANTING OUT. Where the fcene of planting is extenfive, and perhaps even in other cafes, that bufniefs may now be going forward (except evergreen or fir kinds, which (hould (land in the lines till the fea- fon of planting). Plants, of courfe, will be required from the nurfery, perhaps daily, or it may be weekly. It is of very great importance that they be taken up with care j efpecially the lank-rooted or fibrelefs kinds, as the Oak and the Beech. We have known many thoufands of fine plants ruin- ed through inattention to this matter. If they have been planted by the dibble, it is no matter on which fide the plants be loofened by the fpade ; but if they have been laid^ it is ne- ccffary to loofen them on the fide which was fo- lid at laying, otherwife you will be fure to cut oflF many of the mofl fibrous and befl roots. In the loofening of plants, which have Hood in the rows two years, as the Oak, Beech and Sycamore, which root perpendicularly ana deep, if the fpade be much floped in thrufting it down, the main roov Jan.2 THE NURSERY. 1 35 root is apt to be cut afimder, perhaps too high. And if thefe kinds, and feme others, be not fair- ly undermined by the fpade, their roots may be torn and injured in the pulling up, to the great detriment of the plants. Refmous trees are lead troublefome in the lifting, as they root fhailow, and are generally very fibrous. Trees which have been in training feveral years, for the park, the lawn, or for hedge-rows, and which ftand at good diftances, Ihould be lifted in the manner of fruit trees ; that is, by throwing out a trench on one fide, ful-y to the depth of the roots, and then putting in the fpade on the oppofite fide, fo as to get below all the roots, and then heeling the plants fairly ovei- to one fide. In lifting plants from the nurfery, they fhould be ihaken as little as pofTible ; the more earth they carry with them to the field, the better will their progrefs be enfured. OF PRUNING NURSERY PLANTS BEFORE PLANTING, &C. While thefe trees, both young and old, are in the hand, at lead before they be planted, they fhould be pruned. Many people pay no atten- tion to this matter, but put in the plants, of all kinds and fizes, without touching them with a knife ; which is extremely wrong, and renders many plants very fickly, by allovCing too great a proportion 136 THE NURSERY. [/fl/J. proportion of branches to the roots : it is the roots alone that fupport the tree ; therefore, every one of them fhould be retained, if poflible, while the top fhould be greatly retrenched. Even mofl of the deciduous kinds which have been previ- oufly pruned while {landing in the lines, as di- re£led above, will require to have their ftems and tops looked over again, with the view of remov- ing any branch that might have been overlooked, and thus more completely direding the juices in- to the leader of the plant. The unmanageable lank roots of fome of the kinds may be fhortened, but in as fparing a man- ner as poflible, only as much as to allow their being planted in good ordinary fizcd holes ; the very fibrous rooted kinds, as the Aih, &c. will re- quire hardly any trouble, excepting in cafes like the above. In all cafes, however, where the large roots have been broken, or much bruifed in the lifting, thefe fhould be cut clean off by the knife. If trees are daily lifted for the planters, it will be proper to cover them over with mats while lying for the operation of pruning, that they may not be too much expofed to the air ; and if they are to be fent off to fhort diftances, once in two or three days, loofely in carts, it is obvious, that they muft be shoughed, or laid into the ground \>y the roots ; but if they are to be carried to a great diftance, they muft be carefully packed into mats. Jani"] THE NURSERY. I57 mats, fo as to fecure them againft the feverities of the weather, to which they otherwife might be expofed, greatly to their hurt. It is alfo ne- ceffary that all the plants which have to lye any time at the field of planting, be shoughed, the bet- ter to fecure and protect them from injury. OF GATHERING FIR CONES. Now is a proper feafon to colled Larch cones. Be careful to gather only from fuch trees as ap- pear to have ripened their cones. Thefe can ea- fily be afcertained, by cutting the fide of one or two cones taken from the tree : Cut in as far as the feat of the feeds ; if three or four good feeds are found in the fide, they are prime cones. After gathering, they fhould be laid upon a dry loft, till the feafon of taking out the feed arrive. Scots fir. Spruce-fir, Silver-fir, and Balm of Gilead fir, may alfo now be gathered, and preferved as above advifed for the larch. It is of great importance, in the fecuring of a crop of any of the fir tribe, to have the feeds taken out of the cones as near to the time of fowing as poflible. The feeds will keep good in the cones for a year or two ; but afi:er being taken out they fpoil, and will not grow, after a few months keeping. CRN A- 138 ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. [Jan, ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. Under this head, we fliall confider all planta- tions near a refidence, which may be termed both ornamental and ufeful ; as groves, fcreens, malfes, detached trees, hedge-rows, ftripes for the divi- fion of farm, &c. ON PREPARING THE GROUND FOR GROVE OR SCREEN PLANTATIONS. The preparation of the ground, for any fort of plantation, is a matter of much importance. Ac- cording to the quahties of the foil, and the manner in which it is prepared previous to planting, we af- terwards perceive the good or the bad effects of management on the plants. A middling foil, well prepared, will often produce better growths, for feveral fucceflive years, than a good foil which has been prepared in a fuperficial manner. In fo far as regards plantations of the defcription under view, it is generally a matter of confiderable mo- ment to have them reared fpeedily ; confequent- ly, we muft have recourfe to effedual preparation of the ground in the firfl: place : And a choice of Jan,'] TRENCHING, &C. 239 fit plants, and a proper method of planting them, may fecure the defired fuccefs. In many inftances, as in the cafe of rearing an immediate fcreen, a mafs, or a grove, placed in a particular point of view, it may be advifable to trench the ground ; in others, perhaps to plough it. But for an ornamental plantation, or indeed any which comes under the prelent head, it would ill become the planter to content himfelf with the fuperficial method of making pits only. If the cxpenfe of trenching be thought too much, let the plough be fubftituted wherever it is praifli- cable. Pitting ought only to be reforted to in places where the furface is fteep, rocky, or fo ftony as that the plough cannot be introduced. On the fubjeft of pitting, therefore, we ihail here be filent. The reader will find that fubjecl fully treated of under the head of Forest Flantations for May. To drain when neceflary, and to drain elTec- tually, are points of the firfl: importance in the preparation of the foil for a plantation, whether it is to be trenched or to be ploughed : — it is as ne- ceflary, and as proper, to drain for timber as for wheat. The fpecics of drain moil generally ufeful in a plantation, is an open or iTiy drain. The depth fhould be according to that of the fprings, and fituated fo as effectually to cut them off. Mader drains may often be conducted m fuch a manner as 140 ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. [JflfW. as to form, at the fame time, the fence, or a part of it, efpecially if executed in the funk-fence man- ner. If furface water only is to be carried ofl", fmall open cuts, or good plough furrows, con- dueled into the mafter drains, will generally bd found to dry the furface completely. Rubble drains are improper in plantations ; being liable to injury and ftoppage by the roots of the trees. If it be neceffary to conceal a drain in an orna- mental plantation when it paiTcs near to a walk, or might be thought a nuifance, it fhould be built on the fides, paved above and below, and covered over with earth. In trenching of the ground for a grove, fcreen, or other ornamental plantation, if the foil be any thing lefs than twenty inches deep, it may be faid, in general, that it (liould be trenched to its full depth. The depth, however, of twenty inches, or at the moll two feet, is quite fufficient in any cafe. In inftances where the foil is lefs than a foot in depth, a fmiple digging may anfwer ; or it may be effedually prepared by the plough and the harrov/. Few in (lances occur in trenching for fuch plantations where it is neceiTary to turn up the fubfoil. It is always proper, however, to break and mix ih? earth well in the operations of trenching. In cafes where the foil is thin, and where it be- comes neceffary, iu di;;^jiiig or ploughing, to turn Jan,'] TRENCHING, &G. I4I up a part of the fubfoil in order to gain depth, it is proper to fallow the land for fome months pre- vious to planting. The time, therefore, for fuch digging or ploughing, fuppofmg it were intended to plant in February or March, is rather Novem- ber than January. But we have no hefitation in faying, that if the ground be broke up at this time or in February, by taking a fallow crop of potatoes or turnip, and planting a year hence^ there would, with refped to the growth of the trees, be no time loft. If the foil be ftiif, and in grafs, it may be proper to take firfl a crop of oats, and then a fecond of potatoes, dunged, previous to planting the trees. In cafes where the ground is to be prepared by the plough alone, and where the foil is deeper than one of the improved Dalkeith ploughs can reach, it would be very proper to make one plough follow another in the fame furrow; by which means the foil may be ftirred fully a foot in depth. This operation, it muft be remarked, can- not, however, be fo well done in the breaking of ley ground, as in ftubble or open furface. If the ley were reduced by a crop of oats or potatoes, the land might be effedually prepared in this manner in autumn and winter. In all cafes, it is obvi- ous, that where the foil is only fo deep as that the plough can, in this maiftier, command it, this muft be the cheapeft mode of preparation. The I crop 142 ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. f/fl«. crop of grain, or of roots, would certainly cover every expenfe. In cafes where the land is trenched or dug, it fhould be left rough, in order to increafe the fur- face as much as poflible ; and in cafes where it h ploughed, it fhould lye in the furrow for fome time before being harrowed down ; all in order that it may be better meliorated by the a6lion of the weather. After planting, we would propofe farther meliorating it by green crops, and by the ufe of the fpade and the hoe for feveral fucceflive years : Of which melioration, by thefe means, fee Jpril on this head. ON PREPARING THE GROUND FOR USEFUL STRIPES, Sj-C. In preparing the ground for ufeful flripes for the divifion of the farm, or the divifion of ex- tended tracts of bleak country intended to be cultivated, the methods followed muft, according to circumftances, either fall under the above head, or under thofe to be recommended for Foreft Plantations in Mai/ ; of which much remains to be faid. OF PREPARING THE GROUND FOR DETACHED, AND FOR HJtDGE-ROW TREES. Plants for this purpofe are generally put in of a much larger fize than thofe for the grove or the Jan,^ TRENCHING, &C. 1 43 the mafs. Being placed at confiderable diftances from one another, they are of courfe planted in prepared pits or holes, fultablc to their refpedive fizes. Such plants are nurfed and removed at a very confiderable expenfe ; and it accordingly be- comes neceifary to beflow a correfponding degree of pains in the preparation of the foil for them. In cafes where the foil is light, deep, and re- markably rich, the lead care will be neceifary ; and in cafes where it is ftiff, thin and poor, the more care will be requifite in the preparation. In the former cafe, it will generally be fufficient to form the pit, a few weeks before planting, of a width and depth correfponding with the fize of the plant, keeping It fully large however ; where- as, in the latter cafe, the better part of the fur- face-earth fhould be taken out, and laid by itfelf, in order to be mixed with the better foil to be brought. The pit Ihould then be made three or four inches deeper and wider than neceifary to hold the intended tree ; and the crude foil taken therefrom llrauld be rejected. The fpace dug out fhould be filled up wiih the good foil broughr; or at leaft three or four inches of it Ihould be laid into the bottom of the hole. The reft Ihould then be intimately mixed with the better furface-earth dug out as above ; referving, however, as much of it unmixed as will ferv^ to cover the fmall fibres of the plants, along with that put into the bottom of the pit. It t44 ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. [Jan. It may be proper to remark here, that, accord- ing to the poverty of the Toil, and the expofed nature of the fituation, the plants (hould be pro- portionally fmall. It is feldom advifable to plant trees more than ten feet in height, in any fitua- tion. In fuch a foil and fituation as that alluded to above, plants half that height would fucceed better. The expenfe of preparing the foil for them would be infinitely lefs than for plants of eight or ten feet in height; whofe roots, of courfe, would be large in proportion, and would require a very great quantity of frefh rich earth, in which to plant them properly. In cafes where the foil is of a medium quality and depth, between the extremes noticed above, it is obvious, that a medium is to be obferved in the preparation of it. In fome inftances, the foil may not be fufficiently deep ; and yet, by collect- ing a little from the furface around, it may foon be made fo, without, perhaps, disfiguring the ground. One thing ought to be obferved in eve- ry inftance, namely, that whatever foil is brought from a diftance, it fhould be of a quality decided- ly fuperior to that on the fpot ; otherwife the la- bour of carrying it will, in a great meafure, be thrown away. There can be no rule laid down with refped to the diftance at which to plant detached trees, nor, indeed, with refped to arrangement. With Jam'] TRENCHING, &C. I45 With refped to the diflance at which hedge^^ row trees fhould be planted, v/e think twenty feet, in the firft inftance, near enough. When they are half grown, they may be thinned out alter- nately, and would then (land at forty feet aparf. If the fence by which they are planted be a wall,''^ they may be fet at fifteen feet apart, or even nearer ; as, in that cafe, they could not injure the fence. OF PLANTING ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. In very few inftances will the grounds to be planted, be at this feafon in a ftate for receiving the plants : planting, when the land is in an im- proper ftate for it, is fure to entail deftruftion on the plants. If, however, any of the ground be dry enough, young trees may now be planted, both in the grove, the mafs, the ftripe, and in the hedges * If it be a fruit wall, however, care must be taken not to plant the forest trees too near to it ; because their roots will rob the fruit trees of their nourishment, and probably kill them entirely. Many instances of the baneful effects of forest trees being allowed too near fruit walls, might be adduced ; but this is not the proper place for such a dis- cussion. Forest trees should never stand nearer a fruit wall than forty feet ; and more especially if they be ash trees, which should not be nearer than a hundred feet. K 146 ORNAiMENTAL PLANTATIONS. [J^'?2. hedge-row ; but as the next month is a more pro- per feafon, we fhall defer our particular directions for planting till that time j which fee. OF PRUNING ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. This fnbjed will naturally arrange itfelf under the refpe^live heads into which we have divided ornamental plantation ; as groves, mafles, ftripes, hedge-row, and detached trees and groups ; to- gether with fcreen plantations. While all thefe are profefledly for ornament, we (liall endeavour to ftudy utility, in directing the operation of pruning ; and we fhall treat of the pruning of each fpecies of plantation feparately. It mull al- ways be kept in mind, that pruning is a matter of the higheft importance, both to the health, the vigour, the beauty, and the utility of timber and ornamental trees. PRUNING OF GROVES OF DECIDUOUS TREES. The profelfed cbje£t, in this cafe, is to acquire tall, clean-ftemmed trees. This end cannot be attained without thick planting, and aifo a con- fiderable breadth of it. Yet thefe alone, would never accomplifh it without the aid of judicious pruning. The pruning of groves of deciduous trees, muft Jan.'} PRUJ^ING, &c. 147 mud be commenced the firfl: year after planting ; and will at that time confifl: in removing every branch competing with the leader for the afcen- dancy ; and thinning the fmaller fide fhoots and twigs on the boles of the plant ; leaving a fuf- ficient number to promote an equal diflribution of the fap over the whole plant. The fame attention to thefe will be annually required, till they arrive at maturity. Care, however, muft always be taken, that the tops be neither too much lightened nor left too thick t The proportion which the top of a grove tree, from twenty years old and upwards, fhould occupy, is about a third part of the height of the plant ; thus, if the tree be thirty feet high, the top ftiould be ten feet. But, in infancy, grove trees fhould be feathered from the bottom upwards, keeping the tops light and fpiral, fome- thing refembling a young Larch. A figure of fuch a tree, eight years of age, will be found in Plate I. fig. 3. The proportion of the tops ihould be gradually- diniinilhed, year by year, till, about their twentieth year, they come to bear the above proportion to the fize of the plants. In cutting, or pruning off the branches, the utmoft care mud be taken not to leave any flumps flicking out, but to cut them in to the quick. It is only by this means that clean timber can be procured for the joiner ; or fightly fmooth demmed trees to pleafe the eye. K 7 lu 148 ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. [Ji/n> In regard to Fir or Larch nurfes in grove plan- tations, they fhould not be removed, nor perhaps pruned, till their feventh or eighth year. Except- ing when neceffary to remove any competing branch, or fuch as bear too large a proportion to the bole, they (hould not be pruned before this age ; and wherever fuch occur, they ought to be removed entirely by the bole. The top of no Larch, at any period of its growth, fhould be al- lowed to be too crowded with lateral branches. In every cafe where this happens, they lliould be thinned out, to prevent its getting top heavy ; be- ing careful, however, never to remove a great proportion of them at once. Thofe intended to be left, fhould be pruned with very great caution; a tier, or at the moft two tiers of their undermofl branches, fliould be removed the firfl year of pruning ; and fo forth annually, till their top bear the fame proportion to their height, as is recom- mended above for the hard wood. The fame care to cut clean by the bole, mufl be obferved in the cafe of Firs and Larches, as is recommend- ed above for the hard wood. In the pruning and thinning of a grove planta- tion, care mufl be had not to make it fo thin of trees on the fldrts, as in the interior, nor to prune the nurses fituated on the edges of the grove fo much as more inwards. Many of the Larches, and, perhaps, the Silver firs upon the fkirts, fhould Jan.'] PRUNING, &c. 149 iliould be left quite feathered from the bottom up- wards, to give the grove a clothed and mafTive air. This precaution is efpecially neceffary, till it arrive at its twentieth or thirtieth yearo PRUNING LARCH AND FIR GROVES. It has been hinted above, that Firs fiiould not l^e pruned at fo early an age, as the deciduous or hard wood kinds. The pruning of a Larch grove fhould be commenced about its fixth or eighth year, according to its ftrength or vigour. No more than one, or at the moit two tiers of branches Ihould be removed at once ; * otherwife thefe trees might be much injured. The fize of the tops fhould be gradually diminiflied, as recom- mended for the nurfes in the preceding article, till they are in the fore-mentioned proportion, which proportion muft be continued to the end. The Ikirts of the Larch grove muft not be either fo much * Three years ago we knaw a gentleman remove five or six tiers of branches from a good number of Larches, from fifteen to eighteen feet high ; and ahhough it ie now tliree seasons since it was done, the trees still exhibit a pallid and sickly appearance, and probably will never resume their wonted vigour. Those in the same plantation which escap- ed the fury of the pruner, are as green and vigorous as can be desired. I50 ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. \\7ari. much pruned or thinned as the interior, at lead for a great while of its infancy. Fir Groves require the fame treatment with Larch Groves in regard to pruning, fave in the cafe of the Scots Fir, which is apt to put forth ilrong and rampant fide-branches on the (kirts of the plantation, which mufl be timeoufly attended to and reduced within proper bounds. PRUNING OF MASSES. This fpecies of plantation is more nearly allied to general forefl: plantation, than the preceding. Neverthelefs, the foregoing obfervations in refpedb to pruning, v,i\\ apply equally to it. If it be a mixture of Hird-wood, Larch, and Fir, thefe refpec- tive kinds muft be individually treated as above di- refted. And the fkiris of the mafs, and more efpe- cially the margin mod to windward, and to the view, muft be kept thick, and leaft pruned. PRUNING OF BELTS AND STRIPES. The pruning of ftripes, or narrow belts, is one of the moft difficult parts of the foreder's em- ployment. He may go on well enough for per- haps ttrn or fifteen years ; but afterwards thefe nar- row ilripes become naktd and bare. Indeed flripes fhould Ja7l.'] PRUNING, kc, 151 ihould always, if poffible, be of fome confider- able breadth, and then their treatment would ap- proach more nearly to that of mafies, or ordi- nary foreft plantation : The only difference in this cafe would be, that they fhould be rather lefs pruned, and efpecially on the fkirts ; the heads, although pruned into a ipiral form, flionld be left proportionally longer or better feathered than a- bove recommended for maffts and groves. PRUNING SCREEN PLANTATIONS. Screen plantations are, as implied in their name, intended either to fheher from the wind, or to cover fome difagreeable objed from the view. Screen plantations, therefore, are generally fur- niflied with a flock of underwood, fuch as Holly, Yew, Laurel, Spruce, Hazel and the like. The pruning of the principal or timber trees in the fcreeii plantation, may be confidered as al- ready pointed out ; fave only, that their heads fhould be kept longer than thofe either of the grove or mafs trees ; or like thofe above recom- mended for trees on the fkirts of narrow flripes or belts. The underv/ood fliould be encouraged to rife up to their refpedive proper heights, not by pruning them, (for they fhould not feel the knife), but by removing the fhadowing branches of the principals, as much as the circumfl^nces of the cafe 152 ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. [/^«. cafe will allow. Part of the principals, as Spa- nifh Chefnut, Elm, Poplar, or the like, which are more than neceffary, may be cut over by way of pollards, to complete the fcreen where wanted. A fcreen plantation Ihould be, from top to bottom, one continued hill of leaves and branches ; be- ginning, at the edge or ikirt, with the moft dwarf growing kinds, and receding with the taller grow- ing, till they mix their branches with the branches of the principals. Both fides of a fcreen planta- tion may be fo managed ; and, when thus manag- ed, it is rendered the moft effectual fcreen. PRUNING HEDGE-ROW TREES. Hedge-row trees, efpecially fuch as are planted in arable fields, although planted principally for ornament, fhould be pruned with more attention to length of ftem, than fingle trees which are planted in the park and in the lawn. It is a gal- ling thing for the corn-farmer to be interrupted by the pendulous branches of the Beech, or the Elm, in his operations in the field. To the gra- zier, however, fuch a circumftance would rather be an advantage. Yet fuch trees, at any diftance, want all the character of large trees, appearing rather like great bufhes ; and confequently they can feldom be accounted beautiful in the fituation of hedge-roW trees. Thofe hedge-row trees which we Jati."] PRUNING, kc. 153 we have known to produce the mofl: pleafing ef- fects, have their tops in proportion to their whole height, as two to two, or as four to five. Thus, if the tree be forty feet in height, the fteni (hould be from twenty to twenty-four feet ; while the top .fliould be from eighteen to twenty feet in height. The tops of hedge-row trees (hould be allowed to exprefs the general charader of the kind : it would be formal and inelegant, to force the Sycamore and the Elm to fhow the fame characler of top. The former will grow more upright and conipaft, while the latter will be more open and llraggling. The tops of grown up hedge-row trees fhould not be allowed to take too great a breadth ; neither fhould they be too much retrenched ; no competing Hmb which might endanger the health of the plant fhould be allowed. The difficulty, or eafe, of pruning hedge-row trees of the above defcripcion, will depend on the kinds which are planted. The Scots Elm will give more trou- ble than the Englifh Elm ; the Beech, more than the Sycamore ; the Afh and the Oak, in their pro- per foil and fituation, will need but a moderate at- tention. Hedge-row trees muft be pruned from the time of planting, onward ; in the manner direQed for deciduous trees, on the fkirts of narrow flripes. The leader muft be encouraged j yet the branches compofing 154 ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. \_Jan. compofing the top mufl: be numerous, and occu- py a greater proportion of the height of the plant, than thofe in thick plantations. PRUNING DETACHED TREES IN THE PARK. The relation of detached ornamental trees in the park or the lawn, to hedge-row trees, is very intimate ; only the variety of figures which trees may be allowed to affume in the former fituation, is much greater than can be admitted in the latter. In the park, or the lawn, however, w-e may have a Lime tree forming a hillof leaves in fummer; and adjoining, perhaps, a (lately Afh, or a noble Oak or Beech, lifting its lofty top high into the heavens. The methods of pruning thefe maft vary ac- cording to their ultimate deftination, PRUNING GROUPS OF TREES. The pruning of groups mufl: be regulated by the effeO: intended to be produced ; each kind of tree fliould exprefs its charafter, yet fo tempered by its neighbour, that they may appear like a whole. "Where there is no mixture of kinds, the management is lefs difficult. FOREST Jan.~} fOR£ST PLANTATIONS. IC f OREST PLANTATIONS. OF PLANTING. If the icale be extenfive, and fuppoliiig the ground to have been prepared as directed in the fummer months, and if the weather be open and dry, this is a fit time to plant. In an extenfive plantation, it will hardly happen but there will be a variety of foil, — fome parts moiil and heavy, and others dry and light. The lighted parts may be planted at this time ; and the more moift, or damp parts, next month, or in March. It muft be obferved, however, that if the ground be net in a proper cafe for planting, the operation had bet- ter be delayed. The plants v.'ill be injured, either by being committed to the ground when it is in a four and wet, or in a dry paichcd flate. At a time when the foil may be termed neither wet nor dry, the operation of planting is moft fuccefsfully performed. The m.ould does not then adhere to the fpade, nor does it rim in ; it divides well, and is made to intermingle with the fibres of the plants with little trouble ; and m treading and fetting the plant upright, the foil is not worked into mortar, which it neceffarily mult be, if in a wet 15^ FOREST PLANTATIONS. [Jafl, wet ftate, evidently to the great detriment of the plants. It is therefore improper to plant on a retentive foil in the time of rain, or even perhaps for fome days afterwards ; nor after a fall of fnow, until it has for fome days difappeared. Whereas, on a dry abforbent foil, it may be proper to plant in the time of gentle Ihovi^ers, immediately after heavy rains, or as foon as the fnow is dilTolved. If the ground has been prepared by pitting, the diftances at which to plant will of courfe be de- fined. If not, it may be proper to remark here, that in very expofed fituations, with a thin foil, the plants may be put in at three, to three and a half feet apart ; and in better fituations, from four to five feet diftance, according to circumftances of foil, ftielter, and the like. With refpeft to the fize of the plants, that muft, in fome meafure, depend on their kinds ; but it may be faid, generally, that, for the purpofe under prefent view, the plants being tranfplanted, (not feedHngs), they fhould be from a foot to eighteen inches in height, ftiif in the item, and well rooted. Plants for this purpofe fhould feldom be more than three years from the feed ; — indeed never, if they have been raifed in good foil. Many of them may be fufficiently large at two years from the feed ; and if fo, are to be preferred to thofe of a greater age, as they will confequently be more vigorous and healthy. JaU.^ PLANTING. 157 The Larch, if properly treated, will be very fit at two years of age. A healthy feedling being removed from the feed-bed at the end of the firft year, into good ground, will, by the end of the fecond, be a fitter plant for the foreft, than one nurfed a fecond year. The next befl plant for the purpofe, is that which has flood two years in the feed-bed, and has been tranfplanted for one feafon. This is fuppofmg it to have rifen a weakly plant ; for, if the Larch rife flrong from the feed the firft feafon, it fhould never ftand a fecond in the feed- bed. The Alh, the Elm, and the Sycamore, one year from the feed, if well raifed, being nurfed in good foil for a fecond feafon, will often prove fufEcient- ly flrong plants for the purpofe here in view. If they be weakly, they may ftand two years in the feed-bed ; and then being nurfed one feafon in good foil, would be very fit for planting out in the foreft. The Oak, the Beech, and the Chefnut, if raifed in rich foil, and well furnifhed with roots at the end of the firft year, being nurfed in rows for two years, would be very fit to be planted out. But if they be allowed to ftand for two years in the feed-bed, and be planted for one year in good ground, they will be ftill better for the foreft, and the roots will be found well feathered with fine fmall fibres. The Silver Fir, and common Spruce, fhould ftand two years in the feed-bed. If tranfplanted into ,15s FOREST PLANTATIONS. [/Jew of filling up an accidental vacancy. In 1 82 FOREST PLANTATIONS. [^JaJl. In order to prevent unneceffary repetitions, and that the fubjecl may be the more clearly followed, we fliall proceed. In the firfl: place, with the man- ner of thinning mixed plantations. OF THINNING MIXED PLANTATIONS. Here the removing of the nurfes is the firfl ob- ject which generally claims attention. This, how- ever, fhould be cautioufiy performed ; otherwife the intention of nurfing might, after all, be thwart- ed. If the fituation be much expofed, it will be prudent to retain more nurfes, although the plan- tation itfelf be rather crow-ded, than where the fituation is {heltered. In no cafe, however, fliould the nurfe? be fuffered to overtop or ivhip the plants intended for a timber crop ; and for this reafon, in bkak fituations, and when perhaps par- ticular nurfe-plants can hardly be fpared, it may fometimes be neceflary to prune off the branches from one fide entirely. At fubfequent thinnings, fuch pruned or disfigured plants are firft to be removed ; and then thofe which, from their fitua- tion, may beft be difpenfed with. At what period of the age of the plantation all the nurfes are to be removed, cannot eafily be determined ; and, indeed, if the nurfes chiefly confift of Larches, it may with propriety be faid, that they fhould never be totally removed, while any Jan.'] THINNING. 183 any of the other kinds remain. For, befides that this plant is admirably calculated to compofe part of a beautiful mixture, it is excelled by few kinds, perhaps by none, as a timber tree. But when the nurfes confift of inferior kinds, fuch as the Mountain-afh and the Scots Fir, they Ihould generally be all removed by the time that the plantation arrives at the height cf nfieen or twenty feet, in order that the timber trees may not, by their means, be drawn up too weak and flender. Before this time, it may probably be necelTary to thin out a part of the other kinds. The ieaft valuable, and the leafl thriving plants, fhould firfl be condemned, provided their removal occafion no blank or chafm ; but where this would hap- pen, they fhould be allowed to ftand till the next, or other fubfequent revifion. At what diftance of time this revifion ihould take place, cannot eafily be determined ; as the matter muft very much depend on the circum- ftances of foil, fhelter, and the flate of health in which the plants may be. In general, the third feafon after will be foon enough ; and if the plan- tation be from thirty to forty years old, and in a thriving ftate, it will require to be revifed again, in moft cafes, within feven years. But one Invariable rule ought to prevail in all cafes, and in all fituations ; — to allow no plant to overtop l84 FOREST PLANTATIONS. [^JoU. overtop or 'whip another. Refpeft fhould be had to the distance of the tops, not to the diflance of the roots of the trees ; for fome kinds require much more head-room than others j and all trees do not rife perpendicular to their roots, even on the moft level or fheltered ground. With refpeft to the Jinal distance to which trees, (landing in a mixed plantation, Ihould be thinned, it is hardly poffible to prefcribe fixed rules ; circumflances of health, vigour, the fpread- ing nature of the tree, and the like, muft deter- mine. Whether the trees are to be fuffered to Hand tiW fidl groum ; which of the kinds the foil feems bell fitted for ; whether the ground be flat or elevated ; and whether the fituation be expofed or fheltered, are all circumflances which muft in- fluence the determination of the ultimate diftance at which the trees are to (land. It may, however, be faid in general, that if trees be allowed a dif- tance of from twenty-five to thirty feet, accord- ing to their kinds and manner of growth, they will have room enough to become large timber* OF THINNING GROUPED PLANTATIONS. Here two things muft be confidered, namely, whether the plantation be fimply grouped ; or, whether it have been mixed with nurfe plants, with !he intention of being afterwards grouped. In Jan.2 THINNING. 185 In the firfl cafe, it fhould be kept rather thick than otherwife, in its early flage of growth, that the plants may as it were nurfe one another. But when the trees have arrived at the height of fifteen or twenty feet, due attention fhould be paid to regular ihimihig, that the trees may not be rendered unfit for any ufeful purpofe to which they might otherwife be appUcable. In the fecond cafe, the treatment is fimilar to that of mixed plantations until the nurfes are re- moved ; with this difference, that the plants which are ultimately to form the group muft, from the beginning, be regarded as the prime objeft y and the nurfes, of whatfoever kinds they be, mufl be viewed merely as the means of bringing forward the principals, and be removed as occafion may require. After the removal of the nurfes, group- ed plantations of Oak, Elm, Beech, &:c. are to be thinned according to the rules already laid down. OF THINNING FIR PLANTATIONS. Plantations of Scots Fir, if the plants have been put in at three, or three and a half feet apart, will require no care until the trees be ten or twelve feet high. It is necelfary to keep fuch plantations thick in the early ftages of their growth, in order that the trees may tower the ialler, and pufh fewer and weaker fide branches. Indeed, a fir or l86 POPvEST PLANTATIONS. [./«W. or foft-wood plantation fliould be kept thicker at any period of its growth than any of thofe con- fiding of hard wood and nurfes ahxady mention- ed ; and it may lometimes be proper to pTunc up certain plants as nurfes, as hinted at above for nurfes in a mixed plantation. Thofe pruned up trees are of courfe to be reckoned temporary plants, and are afterwards to be the firfl thinned out: next to thefe, all plants which have loll their leaders by acc'ident, fhould be condemned ; becaufe fuch will never regain them fo far, as af- terwards to become llately timber; provided al- ways, however, that the removal of thefe muti- lated trees caufe no material blank in the planta- tion. Care fliould be taken to prevent ivhipping ; nor fliould the plantation be thinned much at any one time, left havock be made by prevailing winds ; an evil which many, through inadvertency, have thus incurred. This precaution feems the more neceffary, inafmuch as Scots Firs, intended for ufeful large timber, are prefumed never to be planted except in expofed fituations and thin foils. At forty years of age, a good medium diftance for the trees may be about fifteen feet every way. It may be worthy of remark, however, that after a certain period, perhaps by the time that the plantation arrives at the age of fifty or fixty years, it will be proper tp thin more freely, in Qrder, by the more free admiffion of air, to hard- en Jan."] THINNING* 1^7 en the timber ; and that, then, this may be done with lefs riik of danger, from the flrength the trees will have acquired, than at an earlier pe- riod ; but ftill it fhould be done gradually. Plantations of Spruce and Silver Firs, intended for large ufeful timber, fliould be kept much in the manner above dated, both in their infancy and middle age. As already remarked, planting and keeping them as thick as is confident with their health, is the bed means of producing tall, draight, clean dems, and valuable timber. When planted for fcreens or for ornament, they require a different treatment ; which will be noticed in the proper place. To Larch plantations, the above obfervations will alfo apply ; and indeed they are applicable to plantations of all kinds of refmous trees. It may be proper here to remark, that the ex- posed ma?'gins of all young plantations diould be kept thicker than the interior. The extent to which this rule Ihould be carried, mud be regu- lated according to the degree of expofure of the fituation, the age of the plants, the tendernefs of the kinds, and other circumdances. The manner of thinning negleded older plan- tations will be treated of in September ; the fall of the leaf being deemed the fitted time at which to judge of the date of health or decay of fored trees, WOODS 1 83 WOODS AND COPSES. {.Jan. WOODS AND COPSES. ON PREPARING THE GROUND FOR AN OAK. WOOD. Different methods may be purfued in the eflablifhing of an Oak \Vood ; one or other of which may be reforted to, according to circum- ftances. We (hall ftate them feparately. If the ground be fo level, and fo free from ftones or rocks, as that it can be ploughed, it is the beft method to truft the preparation of the land to the plough. In this cafe, however, we would by no means advife the rearing of an Oak wood on a poor moorifh foil. Such land (hould be referved to be planted with trees better fuited to its nature. The Oak requires, and deferves a good foil ; and if an attempt be made to rear an oak wood in a very bad foil, fuch an attempt will inevitably fail. The upper foil fhould be at leaft fix inches in depth, and a tolerably good mould ; fuch as would, if properly cultivated, produce a fair crop of grain. There can be no objedion to a cool, deep fand^ the oak being found Ja?2.'] PREPARING GROUND. 189 found to thrive well in fuch a foil, when once fairly eftablifhed. If the ground be in ley, or in coarfe pafturage, and of a quality capable of producing a crop of oats, the field fhould be prepared by fuch a crop. After the removal of the oats from the ground, it fhould be ploughed as deep as the foil will admit, if under nine or ten inches, either by Tingle or double ploughing. It may lye in this furrow till March, and may then be harrowed flat. It mufl be ploughed again in April, at which time the acorns are to be fown. In fuch a cafe as that under confideration, we would recommend the cropping of the ground among the young oaks for a few years : fuch cropping will defray the expenfe both of fowing the oaks, and of keeping the ground clean among them, and will greatly promote their growth, pro- vided the land be not overcropped. The crops in- troduced mull be, not of a feourging nature, but fuch as lettuces, turnips, potatoes, beans, and the like. Carrots and cabbage are more fevere crops, and fhould, if poffible, be avoided. The land fliould be manured for thefe crops, as in or- dinary gardening. The firfl crop may be turnip with dung : Beans to follow, without dung : Af- ter the beans, a crop of lettuces without dung, which would generally leave the land very fit to be laid down in grafs in the following feafon with- 1 out i9^. the above kinds is to be fufpended till this time, that of the oaks is ftill farther to be deferred till May ; becaufe, at that feafon, owing to the flow of the juices, the thinnings, or felled trees, are mofl eafily barked. WOODS FthS} WOODS AND COPSES. 2Jl WOODS AND COPSES. PREPARATION OF THE GROUND. Those grounds intended for Oak Copfes from feeds, and which have been under fallow the pre- ceding feafon, may ftill require a furrow previous to that for fowing the feeds. This will be efpe- cially necefTary, if the furface be much battered and flatted down by the winter rains. Lands intended for this purpofe, which have been under a crop of oats the preceding feafon, in order to rot and reduce the fward, and which are lying in the furrow which they received after the removal of the crop, ought now to be crofs- ploughed, as the befl means for reducing and me- liorating the foil. It may lye in that ftate, and be harrowed down in March. But if the land has been under a rotation of corn and green crops y has been lafl: feafon under oats, and has received a furrow after the feparation of the crop from the ground ; and if it remain tender and clean ; it will require nothing more till it receive the feed far- row in April. If, however, crops of vegetables, or 272 WOODS AND COPSES. [^Fcb, or green crops of any kind, be intended to be taken from any of the above grounds, they muft receive a drefling of dung to enable them to pro- duce fuch in perfedion. It is a matter of confi- derable importance to have this ready at the fide of the field by the time of fowing, left the necef- fary operations ihould be hindered in procuring it from a diftance. Thofe lands which have been pitted for woods and copfes, require nothing at this feafon, except- ing,, perhaps, the letting off of (landing water from low grounds and hollows, — the fouring of . pitted land, or indeed any land, proving higfily detri- mental to the vegetation of the feeds aiterwards to be fown in it, PLANTING NURSES. In craggy and elevated grounds which have been pitted in May lail year for the fowing of Oak copfes in April this year, and which were in- tended to be fheltered with Larch nurfes, it is now a proper feafon for planting thefe nurfes. The nature of the foil evidently points out, that the bed mode of preparation is by the mattock. If the land be ilirred to a good depth, the plants thus fet will fucceed nearly as well as if the land had been pitted : And the preparation by the mattock will not coft one half of the fum that pitting would have amounted to. •^t^ANTINCl JFeb.'] MIXED coFs£s, &Co 273 PLANTING MIXED COPSES. The feafon is now arrived when the mod of this work may probably be performed. Anxiety, however, fhould never be allowed to drive us to plant when the ground is in an unfit (late. It is a more rational and fafer plan to defcend to the lowed grounds in the planting as they begin to dry. It only requires a fmall addition of labour; which, put in competition with the fuccefs of the plants, is nothing. But, under this article for January^ we have already given direftions in thi5 refpecl, as well as in regard to the mod proper kinds, the manner of planting, and introduction, of the nurfes ; to which, to prevent repetition, we beg leave to refer the reader, PRUNING WOODS AND COPSES. As in Fored plantations, the pruning of Copfes may dill be carried on, excepting copfes of Birch, which, as before dated, mud not be wounded at, fo late a period of the feafon. The pruning of coppice wood cannot be confidered as differing {0 much from the pruning of ordinary plantations, as to require any didind directions. We there- fore refer the reader to the article Vnining Forest Trees for lad month. ■^ THINNI^^ 274 THINNING WOODJ AND COPSES. [JV3. THINNING WOODS AND COPSES. This is now a proper feafon for thinning out all the coppice kinds, in order to barking them ; fave the Oak, which fhould remain untouched till May ; where diredions for taking off, and dry- ing the bark, will be given. The thinning out of the nurfes, in this dcfcription of plantation, will fall under the fame management with ordi- nary Foreft plantation, of equal ages j we there- fore refer the reader to the article Thinn'mg Forest riantatms for January, FEN. Feb.1 PEACES. 275 FENCES. Quickset, or Thorn fences, may ftill be made With great propriety. The befl methods have been treated of under this article for lad month. The work of plafliing and cutting down ne- gleded hedges may ftill be carried on during this month ; although it may not be advifable to carry fuch operations much beyond it. It is extremely prejudicial to all deciduous plants to be lifted af- ter the fap begins to flow. The lifting of thorns ought therefore to be fufpended from the mid= die of March till the autumn months. If any hedges have been negleded to be fwitch- cd, it muft not be delayed any longer. This is by no means the beft feafon for fuch work ; but, were it left undone till autumn, the hedge would be much injured. MAKING AQUATIC HEDGES. We may here remark, that Aquatic Hedges are often of very great utility in fencing and fubdi- viding low wet grounds and moift meadows, and S 3 for 276 FENCES. l^Fcd. for forming fcreens and flielter In damp fituations, where the hawthorn would not grow. The moft proper plants for farming fuch hedges are, the Birch, the Alder, the Elder, the Willow, and the Poplar. Seedlings of the two former kinds are required ^ the latter forts may be rear- ed from cuttings inferted in the places where they ate intended to grow. The plants of Birch and Alder,."^ which are raoll proper for being planted out, are one-year feedlings v/hich have been one year nurfed ; thefe fhould be planted without being cut down. Both Birch and Alder are moft proper for being laid after ditch- ing, as direded for Thorn Hedges in laft month. Neverthelefs, they may be alfo planted upon the furface, without any ditch. The other forts may either be planted on the furface, or after ditching, with equal propriety. If, however, they are to be planted upon the fur- face, without any ditch, the land fhould be pro- perly prepared. The beft method is by a light trenching : paring off the furface, and burying it under a good deep spading of earth, will be ge- nerally fufficient. The furface fhould not be left over rough ; and the cuttings are then to be thruft perpen- * The Alder is also propagated from cuttings, but with less certainty than the other sorts. For this reason, we re- commend planting Alder hedges with rooted plants. Feh.'^ AQiiATic HEDnEs. iy7 perpendicularly down, if it can be done with fafety to the fets, along the fide of the line, to within three or four inches of the top. The dif- tances at which ihefe fhould fland, to form good thick hedges, h, for the Elder, nine inches ; for the Poplar, nine inches^ and for the Willow, fix inches : The cuttings, which are to be planted on tTie furface, as above, mufl be made fharp in the thick end to be pufhed into the ground, that they may be planted with the greater eafe. If, lijowever, any of the thi-ee forts are to be plant- ed after ditching, the cuttings will require no pre- paration of the kind ; but are to be laid as if they were thorn plants. Some writers recommend the thrufting in of all cuttings of the forts above mentioned. But this is often attended with danger to the cuttings ; the bark being fometimes pufhed off by the hardnefs of the land. If there is the lead danger of this, we would advife to ufe the Iron-fhod dibble, and put in the cuttings in the manner of ordinary planting. The cuttings of all the above forts, for the prefent purpofe, ought to be fuch as are taken from firm laft year's Ihoots, and of fifteen inches Ie. length. Care mufl be had not to ufe the finall foft part of the fhoots of any of the kinds ; be- caufe fuch always produce weak bu flies, which might caufe gaps in the fences. OTHER 278 PENCES. {.Feb, OTHER KINDS OF FENCE? The fencing of plantations with dryftone and Galloway dikes, (hould be carried on with all fpeed. Towards the end of the month is a good time to begin to build funk-fence walls, and other di- vifion walls, with mortar": In refpt£l to the pre- paration of which, fee the article Stone Walk for March. A fufficient fupply of paling flabs and rails fhould be provided for defending new planted hedgv-s. Thefe ihould be forthwith ereded. Thofe of former eredion fhould be mended and fecured, wherever they may require reparation. In (hort, all the fences fhould be put in a proper Hate of repair as fpcedily as poffible. Such grounds as are intended to be fenced with a ditch and whin hedge, as noticed laft month, may now be prepared for receiving the feeds next month ; which fee. MARCH. MARCH. Marchl THE NURSERY. ^^Xt% THE NURSERY. C^ONTiNUE the laying out of feedling Thorns, Larches, and Elms, if not previoufly done. The work of planting out feedling plants of early growth ought not to be delayed beyond this time on any account. If any one-year or two-year feedling Afli, Oak, Beech, or the like, remain unmoved from the feed-bed, they fhould forthwith be lifted and shoiighed, as directed laft month. When the nurfery runs fhort of any of the kinds of feedlings, and they muft be brought from a diftant nurfery, never allow them to re- main in the bundles in which they come tied up j but have them inftantly fhoughed when they ar- rive. Even if it be intended to plant them out in a few days, this shoicghing fhould be attended to ; for fuch a change of weather may -take place as may compel the poflponing of the planting for perhaps 8$* THE NURSERY. [March, perhaps a week longer, greatly to the injury of the plants, and more tipecialiy if they be very dry. The experience of every i'eaf'"'a points out the deflruftive effeds of not atten ing to the pre- caution of iminediate plunging u. the earth. Elder, Pop i.r, and Wdiow cuitingf. muil now be provided and planted out. If circumllhnces render the planting of them at this time iuipof- fible, they may be fluck fingly inio a fpot of very damp foft earth, where they will remain fafely for two or three weeks. Cuttings fo treated, fend out their young roots probably before they can be re- moved : in which cafe, care ftiould be had to plant them out in damp, or even rainy weather ; becaufe the young fibres are ill able to endure the violence of fpring droughts. When fuch cut- tings are to be lifted for planting, they fhould be eafed with the fpade, in order to prefer ve every Toot entire. PLANTING SEEDLING BIRCHES AND ALDERS, The Birch is of very early growth, and re- quires to be attended to immediately. The pro- per foil for Birchts, as has already been hinted, is fuch as is finely parted and moify. They ought not to be committed to land of a clayey nature in their infant ftate ; they will do pretty well in 9 foft fandy earth, but not nearly fo well as in their own natural loofe and raoffy foil. What March,'] SEEDLING BIRCHES ANB ALDERS. aS^ What is above faid of the Birch, applies equals ly to the Alder, the fame foil and treatment be- ing requifite. The diftance at which Birches and Alders fhould be planted, muft, as in the cafe of other feed- lings, be regulated by the age and fize of the plants, and the time which it is intended they fhould be nurfed. Two-year feedlings of good growth, which are to be nurfed one year, fhould fland fifteen inches between the lines, and five or fix inches apart in the lines. One-year feedlings, to be nurfed one year, fhould be tw£lve inches between the lines, and four inches apart in the lines. But if intended to be nurfed two years, the fame diflance is required as is affigned above for the two-year feedlings. A natural Birch or Alder foil does not require fo much manure to enable it to nouriHi thefe plants, as is neceffary in mod cafes for other foils. Never thelefs, it is very improper to commit young Birch or Alder plants to a foil which, though ap- parently congenial, has been previoully exhaufled by a heavy crop oi trees, without a good drexTmg of well made liable dung : This fhould be well intermixed with the foil in the a£t of digging. SOWING SEEDS. It often happens, particularly in Scotland, that various tree-fcedsj ordered from London and o- ther 284 NURSERY. J[Marc7h ther places, do not arrive at the nurfery till this month. This is frequently the cafe with acorns, horfe-chefnuts, Spanifh chefnuts, hazel nuts, horn- beam feed, and walnuts. If thefe be now arrived, they fhould forthwith be fown. Soxving Elms. The Elm feeds, which were gathered in the latter end of laft June, may now be fown. There is, however, great danger in rifldng the whole elm feed at this early feafon, more efpecially as there already exifts a quantity which were fown laft June, and which are expelled to rife this fpring. It frequently happens that the early ve- getating elms are cut off by the fpring frofts. It will therefore be fafer to fow, perhaps, the half of the elm feeds faved, and to referve the other half for April fowing. Thofe late fown, although they will not be fo ftrong plants by autumn as if they had been fown earlier, and had efcaped the froft, yet they will prove a fecurity againft a to- tal want of the article, which many have experi- enced by not attending to this precaution. The ground moft fit for fowing Elm feeds, is fuch as is tender and rich. If it has been under a Hght crop of vegetables laft feafon with dung, it will anfwer the better. The crops of vegetables moft fit for preceding tree feeds of any kind, are fuch March."] sowing laburnums. 285 fuch as are not apt to leave any remains to dirty the ground during the fummer. Hence, potatoes are very improper as a preparing crop ; but let- tuces, fpinage, onions, turnips, or the like, are very proper preparing crops. If the Elms be intended for two-year feedllngs, which in mod cafes is the preferable age, they fhould be fown very thin, in order that the plants may rife ilout and vigorous. If they rife too thick the firft: year, they are for feveral years af- ter fenfibly afFeded, continuing weaker, although carefully thinned out. The bed form of fowing Elms is in beds, as previoufly advifed for haws in lad month. The covering of foil fiiould not be more than half an Inch thick. Sowing Lahurnums. Laburnums, both the tree and the fhrubby forts, being very hardy,, may now be fown. There is no plant we know more liable to be hurt, or indeed more generally hurt, by thick fowing, than this. The feeds are generally good, and confequently fure growers. When they rife very thick, they lofe their leaves about midfummer, become mildewed, and die. Laburnums of neither of the forts fhould be fown to rife nearer to one another than an inch ; and 28S NUK.S£RV. [_Ma7rIi. and if they are intended for two-year feedlings, as they generally fliould, this diftance is too little, and may be increafed to an inch and a half. In October, the time of gathering thefe feeds, we fhall point out the neceflity of keeping the tree and fhrubby forts feparate ; and the fame care Ihould be continued to fow and plant each kind by themfelves, for fear of future miftakes. The land mod proper for Laburnum feeds, is fuch as has above been recommended for elms. The bed form is the beft, and the covering fhould be three quarters of an inch thick. Soxiing Syeatnores, Sycamores, like elms, are very liable to be kill- ed at the brierbig by late frofts. It would there- fore be proper to fow only one half of the feeds at this time (towards the end of the month), and to referve the other half for April fowing. Sycamores fhould never be fown in rich moid land, elfe they will rife fo tall and foft, that not one of a thoiifand of them will have a whole top j and hence will be little worth. The land moft proper for fowing Sycamore feeds in, is dry expofed fandy foil, by no means rich„ If they can be raifed three or four inches high, with whole tops, in the firft year, a thoufand of thefe are worth twenty thoufand of fuch as are a foot or eighteen inches high without tops. Sycamores March.'] sowing birch and alder. 287 Sycamores (hould not be fown thick ; if they rife an inch apart, it Is abundantly thi.:k for one- year feedlings : and if intended for two-yeai f-ced- lings, they (liould not rife nearer one another than two inches. Sowing Birch and Ald^r. This' is now a proper time for fowing Birch and Alder feeds. We have feveral times had oc- cafion to notice the quality of foil moft fuitable for thefe kinds. The land, however, fliould ei- ther have been under a preparing green crop, or fallow, the preceding feafon, and previoufly dung- ed, that the manure may be well incorporated with the foil previous to fowing. The land muft be carefully digged, and parti- cularly broken, from top to bottom, in the dig- ging. The raking alfo muft be performed with great attention to part the foil very fine. It is hardly poflible to cover Birch feeds too little, if they be covered at all. The covering therefore mull be very gentle. It need hardly be obferved, that a calm day fhould be chofen for fowing birch feeds, as for all others that are light. The preparation for Alder feeds is the fame as for the Birch : The covering, however, for the former ought to be a quarter of an inch thick; and the bed form for both kinds Is the bed. Al- though 288 MURSEP.Y. iManh, though we here recommend the lowing of tlie Birch at this time, it may alfo be fown dired from the tree in the end of Auguft or beginning of September. But fuch rife fometimes too early for a Scots cHmate : It is proper, therefore, to referve the principal part of the fowing till about the firft week of April. It is difficult to fay how thickBirch and Alder feeds fhould be fown, it being no eafy thing to know their quality. It is better, however, to fow pretty thick, and to thin them out the following fpring, if necelTary. Soiiing Beech. The Beech, like the fycamore and the elm, is veiy liable to be killed by late frofts in the fpring. It would therefore be very proper to withhold the fowing of a part of the beech mall till the firft or'fecond week in April. There is danger, how- ever, in keeping it longer out of the ground than the middle of April : For if fevere drought fet in, it will not rife till the following fpring, and fo have a great chance to perifli by the frofl. Beech mafl fhould never be fown in poor land. The foil mofl fit for it, is fuch as we have de- fcribed as fit for elm feeds : only the land for the beech may receive a dreffmg of fmall dung pre- vious to the fowing of the feeds. Care mufl be had not to fow the feeds too thick, and efpecially I if March.~\ destroying vermin. 289 if intended for two-year feedlings. If the feeds are good, they fliould not lye nearer to one an- ther, when fown, than an inch. The bed or the drill form may be adopted at pleafure. The co- vering for beech-mafl: Ihould be a full inch thick. DESTROYING VERMIN. According as the fowing of feeds in the nuf- fery is increafed, fo will the care to preferve them from de(lru6tion by mice and birds require to be increafed. New fown elm feed will be greedily fought for by the birds, and the beech-maft by the mice. PREPARING VACANT GROUND FOR GREEN CROPS, &C. In the Introduction, the advantage of a nurfery being occafionally ufed as a kitchen garden, has been mentioned. In all cafes, land v/hich has been long under trees, fhould be refted by a crop of vegetables with dung. We have already men- tioned fome of the crops which may advantageous- ly be ufed as preparing crops before fowing fome forts of tree feeds. If, however, the crop which is immediately to follow be tranfplanted trees or thorns, potatoes m.ay precede with great propriety. Beans, with manure, will alfo be found an ex- T eelleat 190 NURSERY. IMarcJu cellent preparative. Carrots, manured with a good dreiling of dung, may alfo be admitted ; but they are otherways a very fcourging crop. Wt cannot enter upon the methods of preparing the land and fowing the feeds of culinary vege- tables here. ^ DESTROYING WEEDS. The dry weather of this month is a proper time to begin the killing of the rifmg weeds. A man will do more execution in a day now, than he will do in a week, if the weeds are allowed to get to a large fize before he begin. Befides, by an early clearance of the weeds, the powers of the foil are referred for the growth of the young trees and ktds. It is a very difgraceful thing for a nurfcryman to have his ground in a weedy ftate. OUNA. * We beg leave to refer to " tlie Gardener's Kalendar, or Monthly Directory of Operations in every branch of Horticulture, " one volume octavo, published by Llessrs. Constable & Co. in 1810, March.'} ornamental plantations. igi ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. It is prefumed that, by this time, the whole of the grounds intended for Ornamental Plantation will be in a (late to receive all kinds of deciduous trees. The firs, however, muft ftill be withheld, excepting in fuch grounds as are very high and dry in their nature. Such as are fo, fliould be furnilhed with their evergreen firs about the end of this month ; but the general planting of firs niuH be delayed till next month. The works which were recommended for lafl month under this article, may dill be continued in this : It would be needlefs, however, to repeat the directions formerly given. In all cafes where it is intended to crop with've- getables land which has been planted after trench- ing, fummer-fallow, or digging, it may now be prepared for their reception. None of fuch crops fhould be introduced, unlefs the land be previ- ouily dunged. If cabbages or potatoes be plant- ed, only one plant in the centre, between every four trees, fhould be put in. This thin planting will produce more weight of crop than if they T ci were 292 OTs-NAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. \_March. \vere thicker planted, and with Icfs injury to the trees. Sowing Lettuces among young plantations will be found a very profitable crop for feeding fwine. Befides, Lettuces, if a good crop, have this ad- vantage, that they exhaufl the land very little, if any thing at all. There is no crop that will en- rich the land more than Lettuces, if they be dig- ged down after having grown to a hrge fize. We have tried this, and found the good effeds for fe- veral years after. Carrots form one of the heavieft crops tliat can be put among young plantations, and fliould feldom or never be fown among them. Parfnips are much lefs hurtful. A rotation of crops among young trees will be found of great ufe. Suppofing a crop of Pota- toes the firft year with dung ; Cabbages may fol- low without dung ; and afterwards Lettuces with- out dung. In the fourth fpring, the ground /iiould be fown down with grafs feeds. But whatever forf of crop be planted or fown among young trees, care mufl be taken not to put the plants fo near the trees as to diflurb their roots, either in pLmting, in working, or in taking up. Above, we have recommended dung as a neceflary preparation for any of the more fcourg- ing crops. Yet we have found that plantations, made in land of tolerable quality, which had been under rotation of corn crops for agricultural pur- pofes. Mm-cJl.^ ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. 293 pofes, and not run out at the time of planting, throve much better, even when cropped with po- tatoes and greens without dung, but properly- hoed, than thofe that were left to nature, without any crops being put among them. Keeping a plantation clean of weeds, and renewing the fur- face of the ground among the trees by frequent hoeings, is the fureft vvay to procure a rapid growth among the plants ; and we only would allow of introducing vegetable crops, the better to fecure the cleaning and hoeing the furface of the earth ; becaufe, if tlie trees fucceed better even with the oppreffion of green crops, when properly hoed, than thofe left in a ftate of nature ; what mud they do, when properly hoed and at- tended to, without the oppreffion of another crop? If th«e trees have thriven as might be expected, no more crops after the third year can be intro- duced ; in which cafe, by the end of this month, the plantation may be fown out v/ith White Clo- ver and Perennial Ryegrafs feeds. This mode of management will procure crops of ufeful grafs, a more pleafmg and agreeable furface, and better growth of trees, than if the plantation were al- lowed to take its chance in the ordinary vvay ; and it is what fhould be univerfally pra6lifed a- mong every plantation which can bear the name of Ornamental. Frunins: 294 ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. [MflTrr/?, Pruning ought to be fufpended till the vi- gour of the growth is over, for reafons previoufly ftated. Thiwiing is ftill to be carried on — efpecially of the Birch, Mountain- Afh, Huntingdon and Bed- ford Willow, Black Poplar, and Spanifh Chefnut. The tliinning of Oaks is to be fufpended till May , which fee. FOREST Maxell.'] FOREST PJ.ANTATIONS. 2^^ FOREST PLANTATIONS. Most probably by the end of this month the whole grounds in any plantation will require to be planted. If, however, in any place the land is over damp, it is better dill to put off the planting until the pits, or otherwife prepared land, be fuf- ficiently dry for the reception of the plants. It is very hurtful to plants to be put into (landing water : Even the aquatic plants themfelves, fuch as the Alder, Birch, Willow, or the Poplar, when put into pits with water in them, have their roots ferioufly injured, or what nurferymen call scalded^ by {landing only for a week or two in fuch a Hate. Grounds low in their fituation, or foils of a retentive nature, may not therefore be in a fit ftate for planting for fome time to come. Firs mufl not yet be planted, excepting, as former- ly obferved, on elevated dry Ipots,, which are liable to be hurt by the fevere droughts of May and June. In the early part of April, or indeed, in fome cafes, in May, firs will fucceed better than if planted now. BEETINC 2g6 FOREST PLANTATIONS. \_March. BEETING UP PLANTATIONS. This is now the proper feafon for this work. Beefing, however, is fubjecl to feveral reftridions. A forcfl plantation after pitting, either in the mafs form, or ordinary mixture, fhould remain fe- veral years after planting, before any hecting of the apparently dead hard-wood plants takes place. Hard-wood plants, in the firft year, and even fometimes in the fecond year after planting, die down quite to the furfscc of the ground, and are apparently dead, while their roots, and the wood immediately above them, are quite frefh, and ca- pable of producing very vigorous fhoots, which they frequently do produce, if allowed to fland in their places. If a tree, fuch as that above alluded to, be taken out the firft or the fecond year after planting, and the place filled up with a frefh plant of the fame kind, what happened to the former may probably happen to the latter ; and fo the period of raifing a plant on the fpot may be protra£ted to a great length of time j or it is poflible this objed may never be gained. The beeting of the hard-rvood kinds, in a plan- tation which has been planted after trenching, or fummer fallow which has been kept clean by the hoe, may be done with fafety at an earlier period than under the foregoing circumftances j becaufe the March.~\ forest plantations. 297 the trees, in the prefent cafe, have greater en- couragement to grow vigoroufly after planting, and may be more eafily afcertained to be entirely dead, than where the natural herbage is allowed to grow among them. While the beeting up of the hard-wood is pro- perly protracted for fcveral years after planting, that of the larches and firs may take place the firft fpring after the plantation has been made ; becaufe, fuch as have died are more eafily dis- tinguilhed. In many cafes when a larch or a fir lofes its top, either by dying down, or the bit- ing of hares or rabbits ; fome of the molt vigor- ous lateral branches are elected by nature to fupply the deficiency, which by degrees auuiiies the character of an original top. Firs and Larches therefore, which have freih lateral branches, are not to be difplaced, although they may have loft their tops. Indeed, no tree in the foreit, or other plantation, ought to be removed, until there be left no room to hope tor its recovery. While we offer the above reflections to guard againft precipitate beeting, we are equally defir- ous that it fliould not be left undone for too long a time. If the beeting of plantations be left undone till the trees have rifen to fifteen or twenty feet in height, their roots are fpread far abroad and their- tops occupy a confiderable breadth of fpace. The introduction 'XgS FOREST PLANTATIONS. [Mfli'cA. introdudlon of probably two or three plants, from a foot to three feet in height, at a particular de- ficient place, can never, in the above circumftan- ces, be attended with any advantage. Such plants may indeed become buflies, and may anfwer well enough in the character of underwood, but they will for ever remain unfit for any other purpofe. It is highly improper, then, to commence the beeting of hard wood plantations before the third year after planting ; or to protract it beyond the fifth or the fixth. We have mentioned, above, the impropriety of planting young plants among large trees ; never- thelefs, we would not be underflood as difluading from planting, even in grown woods, a vacant fpace, of fome falls in extent. Where fuch fpaces happen to occur, they may and ought to be plant- ed up, even when furrounded with trees of fifteen or twenty feet in height. When trees in an old plantation have been fell- ed,' fo as to leave vacancies of a half or a whole acre, fuch may be replanted with great propriety. It may however be obferved, that there ought to he as great a diiTerence between the natures of the former and intended occupiers, as the foil will pofiibly admit. If, for inftancc, the trees remov- ed were Scots Fir ; perhaps Oaks, Elms, or Afh may follow ; along with nurfes of Willow, Elder or Mountain-Afli, or a mixture of thefe. It March.'] FOREST plantations. 299 It is, however, impofTible to note down here all the circumftances which may influence works of the above defcription. The intelligent planter mud cxercife caution and reflexion. Precipitancy we have found to be the greateil error a planter can fall into. HEADING DOWN TREES. It is nov/ a proper time to examine all planta- tions which are three or four years planted, to fee if the hard-xiood trees are in a thriving ftate ; and fuch as have not begun to grow freely fiiould be headed down to within three or four inches of the ground. The cut mufl be made in a fioping diredion, and with one cut of the pruning knife. Great care Ihould be taken not to bend over the tree in the aft of cutting. By fo bending, the root may be fpHt; a thing which too often happens. The operation of cutting over young trees fhould not be performed at an earlier period of the feafon, becaufe the wounded part might re- ceive much injury from the fevere weather to be expeded in January and February, and the ex'- peded flioot be thereby prevented frora rifmg fo (Irong and vigorous. THIXNINP 300 FOREST PLANTATIONS, IMaVck THINNING FOREST PLANTATIONS. We have already fhown, in laft monuh, the im- propriety of continuing the pruning of trees in this month, and thofe of April, May, or June. Thinning, however, as dated laft month, may now be carried on, efpecially in cafes where Birch, Mountain-Afh, Willow, and Spanifli Chefnut, are the trees to be removed, and which are to be barked. The thinning out of the Oak is to be fufpended till Tvlay ; which fee. WOODS March.~\ woods and copses. 301 WOODS AND COPSES. In the preceding month, dire^lions were given for planting mix-ed Copfes. Whatever more of fuch work remains to be done, it ought not now to be delayed, unlefs on account of the too damp ftate of the land. The drought of this month is ge- nerally very intenfe : Intervals of a few days may therefore be expefted, when the damp of the wetteft of the pits will be entirely dried up. Thefe favourable times fliould be embraced with avidity, for the purpofes of planting. In the lail: month we noticed, that the operation of cutting Coppice- wood of Birch, &c. fhould go on. If there is (till any work of this kind to per- form, it fhould forthwith be done. SOWING COPSES AND WOODis'. In the event of fowing copfes, either of Oak, or of a mixture of kinds, in grafs land which has barely been prepared by pitting, like ordinary plantation, it would be proper to defer the work i till 302 WOODS AND COPSES. \_Marc/i, till next month. One fpecial reafon for deferring the fowing of acorns till April, is, that they may be the more perfectly fecurcd from the ravages of field-mice. If the fowing of oats and other grains be going on in the adjoining fields, thefe vermin will be drawn that way, and will contiime to live upon the grain as long as pofiible ; but, were the acorns firfl put into the ground, a vafl quantity of them might be deftroyed. Lands which have been prepared by fallow have not fo much harbourage for thefe vermin. Suchj therefore, may be fown at this time. It is gene- rally proper, previous to fowing, to give the land a drefTmg of fmall dung j to plough it neatly in, and harrow all flat. No feeds which require two years for vegetat- ing, fnould be fown in mixed copfes, or, indeed, in any fpecies of plantation. It is much better to fow them from the rot-heap in the nurfery, early in the fpring in which they are to brier ; becaufe they will make far better fhoots fo treated, than if the feeds were ailov/ed to lye in the ground dor- mant for a feafon. Befides, the care will be di- minifhed a whole feafon j and the future cropping with vegetables may be done with much more cafe. The direflions which have been given, under the title Nursery , for fowing feeds there, will give a coTreft idea, both of the deepnefs and thicknefs at. March.'] woods and copses. 303 at which patches of Copfe-wood feeds are to be fown. Thefe patches fhould be at fix feet diftance from each other, both in the rows, and alio be- twixt them. They fliould be fo difpofed, as that the patch in the one row fnall be oppofite the middle of the vacant fpace between the tv/o patches of the oppofite row, or in what is called the Quinciini' Order. The eafieft manner of performing this, is by a chain marked at the proper diilances. Look out for the permanent angle of the field which is neareft the fquare, that is, which will bed corre- fpond with an angle of 9005 which being form- ed, let the Hmbs of this angle extend themfelves the whole extent of your field either way, which can be eafily done by poles, a hand line, and a hoe. Form a line parallel to the longed limb of the angle, and at ten, fifteen, or twenty times the diftance propofed for the rows of plants. Be- gin at the other, or ihorteft limb of the angle, and meafure on each of the above lines the dif- tance of the propofed Hne of patches j which mark, by flicking up a fmall pin eight or nine inches long. Thefe two hncs may be fo marked througli their whole length. Then flretch the chain over the firft two equidlftant pins, and produce the line till the proper point be exaclly marked upon the above mentioned longeft limb of the angle. While doing this, you go along the chain, and fow 304 WOODS AND COPSES. \_MardL, fow or plant the patches, as their nature requires. Of Chefnuts and Acorns there may be three good feeds in a patch, placed fo as to form an equilateral, triangle, whofe fides fhall be feven inches in length ; and the fmaller feeds may be fcattered over a fpace of the fame fize. Having finifhed this line of patches, ftretch the chain over the next two pins, taking care that the exad half of a divifion be meafured from the forementioned line or limb of the angle. Proceed to fow at the marks in this manner ; making the third line like the firft, the fourth like the fecond, and fo on to the end. And thus, the field will be fown in the beft man- ner poffible ; the plants will each occupy their allotted circle ; and the future operations of ploughing will be performed with far greater eafe and perfeftion. In order that this fubjeft may be the better un- derftood, we fliall here give a diagram, illuflrative of the mode of fowing Woods and Copfes now re- commended in ground prepared by the plough. A, Marc^t.'] WOODS AND COPSES. 305 A, The permanent angle of the field neareft to an angle of 90°. A B, AC, The limbs of the angle extended the whole length of the field. D, The longeft limb of the angle. E, The line formed parallel to the longeft limb of the angle. . The pins denoting the diftances between the rows of the patches. « The patches. It THIN- 3o6 WOODS AND COPSES. \_March. THINNING OUT THE PATCHES OF FORMER SOWINGS. Woods and Copfes, of whatever kind, fliould be carefully examined at this time. Thofe that were fown a feafon ago with fmall feeds, fuch as Birch or the like, and which rofe very thick, fhould be thinned out, as direded for rearing two-year feedlings in the nurfery. And fuch as have been two years fown, and thinned out in the fpring of lad year, may now be thinned .out to (land at the diftances formerly recommended for planting A- corns and Chefnuts. We may here again obferve, that upon no account whatever are thefe patches to be eafed with a fpade, on pretence of making the work of thinning more pradlicable. The fu- perfluous plants muft be pulled out by main force, being careful to leave the beft formed and mod promifmg plants, and to diflurb thofe left as little as poflible. At the fourth feafon after fowing, the plants fhould be finally thinned out to fmglc trees ; obferving to leave the fined plants, i. e. fuch as are bed formed, and mod promifing m their appearance. PRi. Ma?rh.2 WOODS and copses* -^o; PREPARING THE GROUND AMONG LAST AND FORMER year's SOWN COPSES, FOR GREEN CROPS. The lafl: year's fown Copfes which were crop- ped with potatoes, may now receive a furrow to prepare the land for the reception of Letfuce feeds, or for fuch plants as are intended for the crop. The ploughing fliould not come quite clofe to the patches, for fear of difturbing their roots, or expofmg them to too much drought during the enfuing fummer. The land may be prepared among young woods of the above defcription by the plough, till the plants rife to the height of eighteen inches, when ploughing fliould be difcontinued. Afterwards, the land muft be prepared by the fpade ; or, per- haps, it may better be fown down with grafs feeds, as recommended above, for young forefl: planta- tions this month ; which fee. Indeed, digging among young Copfe woods after this time, will be of little advantage to them, feeing that they are now well eftabliflied ; and crops of clover and grafs will be lefs hurtful than if the grounds were left to chance for a crop, and they will be much more ufeful. 5o8 PENCts. [^March. FENCES. THORN AND AQUATIC HEDGES. Thorn Hedges, which remain unplanted, fhould forthwith be done. Beech and Horn- beam for nurfery or other fhelterers, fhould alfo be completed. All aquatic hedges and fcreens fhould be fpeedi- ly finifhed. By this time cuttings will be apt to part with the bark in planting ; care muft there- fore be had, in the operation of planting, not to pufh it off. Indeed, efpecially after the feafon is fo far advanced, it is better to ufe the dibble for cuttings, as advifed under this article for iaft month, BUILDING OF STONE FENCES WITH MORTAR, Sttch works may now be carried on with great propriety, becaufe it is to be expedted that fe- vfre frofts are over for the feafon. Much more, however. MarcJi.2 FFNCES. 309 however, is neceflary in making a good wall, than the building of it after the frofl is gone. We have known many tradefmen, who, from their ilovenly difpofition, have fpoiled good materials, even in the midfl of fummer weather. The build- ing of walls is generally engaged for at fo much a rood ; and it not unfrequently happens, that thofe who perhaps have the management or overfeeing of the work, cannot detecl the imperfeclion of the execution till it be too late. It is for the fake of fuch perfons that we offer the follov/ing obferva- rions. In order to make durable v/alls, it is not only neceffary to ufe lime, but to ufe it under proper circumftances, and with fuch a proportion of fand as is fit to make proper mortar or cement, other- wife we feek in vain to m.ake durable walls. Pro- perli/ prepaj^ed vwrtar in a wall is its bond of u« nion, and the pledge of its durabihty. A wall built with ill prepared mortar is not fo efficient as a good dry-flone dike. The moft profitable lirae to be ufed for build- ing-, is fuch as requires the greateil quantity of fand to a given quantity of lime-shellSy -^ to make proper mortar. Different limes, although of equal flrength, may require very different treatment in preparing them for building with. We have known a lime 2^-.hich would have fallen to fine powder, on the application * LImestcne. 5i# fENCis. [^Marclt. application of water, although it had been feveral months removed from the burning kiln ; while o- thers that we have known, removed but a week or two, would never after fall into powdery lime. If, however, the latter fort had been inftantly re- moved from the kiln while yet hot, and cover- ed with fand before the application of water, it would moft readily have fallen into as fine powder as could have been defired. But no lime-lhells ever fall fo fpeedily as immediately after they are removed from the burning kiln. In order to prepare proper mortar for building, it is necelTary to riddle the lime. This oper^^tion is beft performed, as foon as the lime is cold after ■watering. The cooling is greatly facilitated by turning. The time fpent in the operation of rid- dling will be more than repaid by the greater progrefs in building. Befides, the mafon will not be obliged to tofs away the best particles of the lime with the cinders, chips of ftones and the like, which are to be found among even the clean- ed lime that has not been riddled. The fand fliould alfo be riddled if ncceflfary. If the lime is of good quality, it will require nearly 300 pounds of good fharp fand to a barley firlot of lime-shells. The sand should be added to the lime while it IS in its powdery ftatc. They fhould be intimate- ly mixed together, and afterwards thoroughly drenched March.'] fences. 311 drenched with water, and fo left in what is called a souring heap for at lead eight days before the mortar is to be ufed in building ; but twice that length of time would be ftill better. When it is to be ufed, it is not fufficient to add a quantity of water to make it thin ; but it mud have a hearty application of the back of the fpade or fhovel, by fmart ftrokes, fo as to break down the lime, and unite it and the fand as completely as poflible. The fand most proper to be ufed, is fuch as is quite free from earthy particles. Sea fand, of good g)ist, takes strong band, and is very pro- per for walls and divifion fences. Pit fand, how- ever, will be found better for houfe»walls ; be- caufe it does not attract the damp fo readily as the other. We judge It unneceffary, in this place, to fpeak of any other kind of mortar than, that compofed of lime and fand, which is the best. Good stones are an elTential part of a good wall. Such Ihould be ufed as are clean, /. e. not coated over with ?n earthy or clayey fubftance. We have known ftones, of good quality in other refpecls, fo foul, that walls built with them never took band. Where there are none but foul ftones to be had, the beft method of preparing them, is by expofmg them in a thin, loofe man- ner, to the winter rains. The frofts may deftroy fome of the foftest of them ; but better have half the 312 FENCES. IMarch, the quantity properly prepared, than the whole unfit. When 'the objed is merely to procure a fence* it is a matter of fmall moment what fort or varie- ty of ft ones be u fed, provided they be durable. But where the wall is to be ufed alfo as a fruit- wall, we would prefer a dark-coloured xvhinstone,* of clofe texture, built with black mortar, even in preference to any brick wall. The mortar for fuch a wall can eafdy be made black, by mixing foot in working it, or when the lime is in a pow- dery ftate. Circumftances and tafte muft regulate the height of the wall. A fix-feec wall will, however, be found the moft complete fence. The thicknefs of a fix-feet wall, at the foundation, ought to be twenty-four inches, and at the top eighteen. The fame thicknefs at foundation and top, will anfwer for a wall twelve or fifteen feet in height ; but, -when the wall is below fix feet in height, the thicknefs may be reduced in proportion. In the building of the wall, care muft be taken that the ftones be laid upon their beds, and fo a to take band in the moft perfeft manner that the materials will allow. The plan of fetting ftones on edge ; of building up, as it were, two fkins, and filling, in probably loofe ftones, with a dafli of a trowel-full of mortar on their top, cannot be too much execrated or guarded againft ; and no- thing * Greenstone and Basalt. Marcli.'\ FENCES. 31^ thing is more common, when walls are built by the rood. The ftones of the wall fhould, as of- ten as poffible, pafs from fide to fide of the wall, and, at all events, {hould have a hold from the oppofite fide to within four or five inches of the furface, or face of the wall, very frequently ; and the heart of the wall fhould be intimately and clofely packed. The coping of a wall is an article of confider- able importance. It Ihould be fo difpofed as to turn the water off the wall. Two ftones placed on their edges, fo as to have their under and out- er furfaces flufh with the fides of the wall, and to meet in a (harp point at top, form a good coping; but any other manner which tafte may fuggefl will anfwer equally well, provided the water be turned off to the outfides of the wall, which is all that is effential to good coping. The fcorias, flags, or danders^ to be found at glafsworks, fak-works, and iron founderies, make excellent coping, provided they be built with good mortar ; indeed, lefs will be required to build them with, than to dafh them after they are laid together in the common way; and the differ- ence in durability is very great. BUILD- 314 FENCES. ^MarcJu BUILDING TOP-DIKES WITH TURF, AN© MORTAR OF CLAY, In feme cafes, the turfs for building top-dikes with mortar of clay, as defcribed in January un- der this article, may now be prepared ; in which cafe, the dikes fhould now be fet about. Build- ing them at an earlier period might fubjed them to deflrudion by frofts, to which they would be equally liable as walls built with mortar of lime. If fine hard black peat can be readily procured, and be built with mortar of clay, it will ftand for a great length of time. The thicknefs and height of the above fpecies of top-dikes may be the fame as recommended for top-dikes in January ; which see, BUILDING TURF WALLS. In fituations where ftone walls cannot be had, or where they are not defired, and where hedges are not to be introduced, walls may be formed of turf at little expenfe, and of confiderable durabi- lity. For this purpofe, the turfs fliould be tough and firm, fuch as are to be had in old grafs land. It is only in fituations where the materials can be procured, without expenfe of carriage, that fuch walls fhould be attempted. The Ma7Th.2 TENGE9. ^ 315 The turfs fhould be cut nine inches fquare, and In no greater quantities than can be built up on the fame day. Having provided turfs, flretch a line for a convenient length where the wall is to ftand. Along by it, place a row of the turfs, green. fide out, and the fame on the oppofite fide. Fill up the vacant fpace between them with puddle, ^ preffing it fo as not to difplace any of the turfs. Allow this to dry a little, and then lay on other two rows of turfs, adding puddle as before, and fo on till it be at the defired height. Finlfh the whole at top by a turf green fide out, and fo large as to reach from fide to fide of the wall, and fo as to be a little rounded in the middle. A frame, the fize of the propofed wall, is necef- fary to build by. Two feet and a half at bottom, and two feet at top, will be a proper thicknefs for a four-feet wall. If it be propofed to be high- er, the thicknefs muft increafe. But walls of thefe materials mufl not b€ attempted very high. If, however, moderate-fized walls, of four or five feet high, be properly built as above, they will iland for a great number of years, MAK- * Puddle is prepared for such purposes from rich soft earth, which is free of stones. It is wrought like rnortar for building ; and should lye some weeks in a large heap, after being wrought, before it be used. 3itf fENCis. ^Marc/u MAKING DITCH FENCES, AND SOWING WHIN SEEDS ON THEIR TOPS, In fituations where none of the foregoing kinds of Fences can be eafily procured, or where they are not defired, fences of confiderable efFeft can be formed by a ditch, with a hedge of Whins on the top. The ditch for this purpofe fhould never be lefs than a fix-feet ditch, and is to be formed after the manner recommended for ditching for Thorn Hedges in January ; which fee. This is now a fit time for fowing the whin feeds, which is done by drawing a drill, with the corner of a hoe, a- long the top of the ridge of earth thrown from the ditch, as if for fowing fpinage, or about an inch deep. The feeds are to be dropped in at one half inch apart, and covered, by drawing on the earth by the foot, or a garden rake. In dividing lands of little value, two five feet ditches, at fuch a diftance from each other as will allow the earth thrown out in forming them to make a pretty deep ridge, and whin feeds fown on the top as above directed, will be found a cheap and often an effedual fence, while the ditch will prove a good drain. APRIL, APRIL. April'\ THE NURSERY. 315 %}^xi\. THE NURSERY, It Is prefumed that all forts of deciduous feed- lings have, by this time, been planted out. If not, there is not a moment to be loft. Indeed, it is very improper that any of the kinds, except- ing, perhaps, the Aih, fhould be fo long in being planted out in the Nurfery. The methods of Lay- ing and Planting have already been treated of in February ; which fee. LIFTING AND PLANTING OUT EVERGREENS AND FIRS IN THE NURSERY. By the middle of this month, it will be proper to lift and lay, or plant out, feedling Evergreen trees ; as Firs, Hollies, Yews, Privets, and the like. Evergreen feedlings muft be very different- ly treated from the deciduous kinds. We re- commended 320 THE NURSERY. \_AprlL commended the lifting and fhoughing the latter ; but no more of the Evergreens uiuit be lifced at once from the feed-bed, than can be planted out in the fame day ; excepting in the cafe of bring- ing them from a diftant nurfery, from which, as foon as they arrive, they fhould be fhoughed thin, as advifed for the Deciduous feedlings in Febru- ary. In lifting Evergreen feedlings, they ihould be as little lliaken as poflible, in order to retain a good portion of the mould in which they grew, adhering to their roots. Indeed, the more they carry with them to their new fituation, the better is their future progrefs fecured. LAYING OUT SCOTS FIRS. Thofe that are fit for laying out, are fuch as have flood for two or three years in the feed-bed ; if Scots Firs are allowed to fland a third year in the feed-bed, they are good for nothing. In lift- ing two-year feedling Scots Firs, they fhould be carefully eafed, as directed for two-year feedlings in February ; to which we beg leave to refer the reader, (p. 229.) The diftances at which they fhould be laid, or planted, is twelve inches between the lines, and three inches apart in the lines. Scots Firs fhould never fland longer in the lines than one year after planting, unlefs they are to be planted in very fine I ground. April.] THE NURSERY. -^21 ground, when they may be allowed two years in. the lines : in this cafe, however, they iliould not Itand nearer to one another in the lines than fix inches, and the above dillance between the lines. Two-year feedling Scots Firs, of good growth, one year planted out in good ground, rife with far better roots in proportion to their tops, than when of any other age, and are therefore more fit for general ufe. The Scots Fir feedlings fliould never be laid or planted out in poor land ; nor, if poflible, in that which is ftiff or hard in its nature. Soft mel- low ground which has been under a crop of po- tatoes with dung the preceding feafon, will an- fwer beft. If, however, it is not rich, it fhould ftill at this time receive a dreffing of fmall dung ; which will encourage the roots of the young plants very much. Laying out Spruce Firs, Spruce Firs, which have ftood two years in the feed-bed, being of good growths, may now be laid out. If, however, the fpruces appear weak at two years, and (land thin in the beds, they may be allowed another year ; by which time they must be lifted, and planted out. They ought, Hke the Scots firs, to be eafed by the fpade, and lifted with great care, fhaking the earth from the roots X as 322 THE NURSERY. £ApiL as little as poflible. Land of the fame quality, and prepared in the fame way as above dired:ed for rhe Scots fir, is required for the Spruce : — It ma), however, be obferved, that the fpruces are very fond of a humid rich earth j — in fuch they will make very rapid progrefs. If the fpruces are intended for one year nur* fing, to prepare them for being flitted into the foreft , they fhould be laid nine inclies between the lines, and four or five inches apart in the lines: But if they are to lland two years in the lines, they fhould be twelve inches diftant between the lines, and fix inches in the Hnes. If they are to remain longer in the Nurfery, they mufi; be re- planted after having flood in the lines for two years. Silver Fi)\ Silver Firs fhould be allowed two years in the feed-bed before being tranfplanted into lines. If they have rifen good plants, they fliould not be allowed a third year in the beds ; — indeed, they fhould fcarcely ever fland three years. The Silver Fir naturally fpreads its infant branches abroad upon the furface of the ground, and therefore re- quires a greater fpace than the Spruces ; but, in refpeft to quality of foil, richnefs, and the like, both require the fame. If two-year Silver Firs are to April'] SILVER FIR. 32^ to be nurfed only one year, they may be put in at nine inches between the lines, and fix inches be- tween the plants in the lines : But if they are to he nurfed for two years, they fhould be fifteen inches apart between the lines, and eight inches in the lines. ]3alm of Giiead Fir. Balm of Giiead Firs Ihould be treated, in all vefpe6ls, as above advifed for the Spruce Firs. TVeyinouth Pine. Weymouth Pines fliould never be allowed more than two years in the feed- bed ; and they (hould not be tranfplanted fooner. They require a very well pulverized and rich foil for being tranfplant- ed in ; and if it can be had of a fub-humid na- ture, they will thrive the better. The Weymouth Pine fnould be nurfed two years before being planted out into the foreft. Twelve inches be- tween the lines, and eight inches apart in the lines, will be found the beil dillances at which to plant them in the Nurfery. Pinasters. Pinafters generally rife to well-fized plants r.he firft year after fowing, and ihould then b« % 3 planted ^24 '^^-^^ NUR.>£RY. [^Aprif. planted out in line. If Pinafters be allowed two vears in the feed-bed, they become fo tall and llender, and withal have fo poor roots, that they are very much the worfe for it. Pinafters may be planted out into the foreft after one year's nurfing in the lines ; and they ihould therefore never ftand longer in the lines than two years. If they are to be lifted after one year's nurfing, they (hould be planted at nine inches betv/een the lines, and four inches apart in the lines : But, if to be nurfed two years, fifteen inches between the lines, and eight inches between the plants, is little enough. The land mofi: fuitable for thefe is a rich, well parted foil, rather fandy and dry. IVie Stmie Fine. This, l^ike the Pinafter, requires to be lifted from the feed-bed at one year old ; — indeed, in all refpeds, both as to foil and management, it fliould be treated like the Pinafter. It is necef- fary, however, to be efpecially careful in lifting the Stone Pine ; becaufe it fends down very long roots ; and if thefe be much broken in lifting, the plants will certainly fail. White Afiierican Spruce Fir. This mufl; always remain for two years in the feed-bed, and will feldom require a longer time in it J Jpnl."] WHITE AMERICAN SPRUCE FIR. 325 it ; — indeed, never, if it has rifen, as it general- ly does, to a good fize the firfl year. They fnould be planted, to be nurfed two years: twelve inches between the lines, and fix inches apart in the lines, will anfwer well. The foil moft; proper for them is a rich fandy earth, and pretty dry. Blac/i and Bed Arricrican Spruce, Thefe are much more delicate than the White. It will, however, be feldom prudent to allow them itiore than tv/o years in the feed-bed ; and they ihould never have lefs. After thefe have flood two years in the feed bed, they fhould be planted out in beds, at fix inches apart, to (land for one year ; — at the end of which ihey will again re- quire to be lifted, and treated as above advifed for the White American Spruce, The foil that is mofl proper for this fort is a damp fandy loam ; iind the fituation of the beds, for their firft tranf- plantation, fliould be fuch as not to expofe them to the mid- day fun. The Cedar of Lebanon Is raifed in boxes of light earth, or on a well pre- pared and fheltered border. When one year old, it mufi be lifted, and planted out in a piece of the iinefl land, to fland for two years only. It never arrives at fo great a height, if planted into the forefl 32^ THE NURSERY. ^AprlL foreft at a greater age. The dillance for planting in the Nurfery lines, is the fame as advifed for the Silver Fir. Hollies, Hollies, which have flood two years in the feed- bed, muft now be lifted and planted out in beds, at five or fix inches apart, in which to fland for two years. The beft fituation is one fhaded from the mid-day fun. The foil moft proper for them is a rich fandy earth. Such Hollies as have flood for two years in beds, are now to be lifted and planted out in lines to ftand for two years more. Choofe a piece of the richeft light land, and, if poflible, a damp day, and let them be planted fif- teen inches between the lines, and eight incheis in the hnes, which will be room fufficient. Yews, Yews, which have ftood two years in the feed- bed, are to be, in all refpeds, treated as above direQed for Hollies. Such Yews as are raifed from cuttings for hedges, or dwarf underwood, are now to be lifted and replanted. Thefe ihould fi:and in lines, at fourteen or fifteen inches diftance between the lines, and levenor eight inches apart in the lines; Oi' AprlW] SOWING SEEDS. n^y or they may be flili wider, if they have rifen to 2^ good fize. SOWING SEEDS. The referved Beech-maft, and Elm-feeds, fhould now be put into the ground, as advifed lail month under this article ; which fee. Before giving directions for fowing I.arch and Fir feeds, it will be right to defcribe the method of extracting the feeds from the cones. Of Taking out Ijarch and Fir Seeds. « In the' winter months, we have advifed ths gathering and keeping of Larch cones, and Fir cones of various forts, in a dry place, till now, being the time of fowing. The way of taking them out is by means of fire-heat in a kiln. The cone kiln is conftrucled after the manner of a common malt kiln : The kehers or bearers fhould be about nine feet diftant from the fire. A hair-cloth is fpread over them from fide to fide of the kiln, and the cones are laid on it to the thicknefs of eight or ten inches. A gentle fire is tlien applied, and regularly kept up till the cones become opened. During the lime of drying, the cones mufl be frequently turned upon the kiln j and when the feeds begin to ^28 '^ti^ NURSERY. [y^pvY. to drop out, they muft be removed to a dry barn, and fiftcd, till all the feeds which are loofe fall out, and be taken from among the cones. The cones are afterwards to be ihrafhed feverely with flails, and fifted as before, and fo on till the feeds arc taken out as completely as poffible. It is, however, a fafer method to fplit the Larch cones before putting them into the kiln. This o- pcration is performed by a fmull flat triangular fpatula, fiiarpened at the point and cutting angles, and helved like a flioemaker's awl. The cone js held by the fore-finger and thumb of the one hand, upon a flat piece of wood, while with the other, by the fplitter, it is fplit up from the great end ; and thus each half is fpht up the middle, which parts the cone into four divifions. This affords occupation, in wet or fl:ormy weather in the winter feafon, for the hands of a place, or for boys or girls, or old people ; and is by far the beft, and leaft: defl:rudive tn the feeds, of any me- thod we know ; becaufe the cones fo fplit, when expofed to the heat, are fuddenly opened, and rea- dily difchargethe feeds; which, confequently, are lefs Injured by the fire heat. Befide the above method of fplitting, there are others. Some people ufe a cone-mill, which has large fharp teeth in a concave cylinder, and others fixed in a correfponding roller. The mill is wrought bv turning the roller by a handle refembling that of April."] TAKING OUT LARCH SEEDS, &C. 329 of common fanners. The cones are let into the mill by a hopper. This inftrument is very difficult to work J and very much bruiies the feeds ; many of which are of courfe deftroyed. We have feveral times made ufe of the common improved Bark-mill, for feparating the feeds from Larch fir cones ; but the cones are thus fo much compreiTed and bruifed, that the feeds fuffer ex- ceedingly, and we would by no means advife it : Indeed, among all the methods which we have known adopted, to perform the painful and la- borious work of extracting the feeds of the Larch, the plan of fplitting them iingly, as above faid, is infinitely the beft and fafefl for the feeds, and ought to be adopted by every one who has occa- fion to ufe only fmall quantities of feed. None of the other kinds of cones require fo much labour as the Larch, excepting perhaps thofe of the Cedar of Lebanon. Cones, which have given out all their feeds, are generally, and very properly, ufed as fuel for drying other cones. This fort of fuel, however, requires the attention of a very fleady feeder. In- deed, the moft careful and attentive are apt to let the full or drying cones on fire, from the refinous nature, and tendency to flame, of the empty cones ufed as fuel. Such kilns fhould, therefore, be ere6:ed in fituations far removed from a danger- ous neighbourhood. The cones of Scots Fir, the Larch, and the Spruce, 33 34^ , FOREST PLANTATIONS. \,ApriU boundaries of her woods to any confiderable cir- cuit, what countlefs numbers of feeds has ihe not thrown away ? Depending upon accident, and si foil unmeliorared, her progrefs is neceflarily un- equal and flow. Under the article Nursery for this month, we have (hown that confiderable preparation and care are neceffary to procure a crop of Firs or Larches with certainty. From a view of thefe circumftances, it will ap- pear that the rearing of a foreft of Firs or Larche»3 by fowing the feeds, although greatly to be de- fired, will be attended with confiderable rifk and care. On a craggy brae, or on rocky or hilly ground, the pits ihould be dug, as direded for Foreft Plan- tations in May, at three and a half, or four feel diftance from one another ; and the pits fhould be made at leaft twelve months before the fowing take place, or perhaps two years, according to the nature of the foil. During the period between the iirft digging of the pits and the fowing of the feeds, they will require frequent ftirrings and hoeings in order to meliorate the foil more completely. h\ very rocky ground, where pitting would be difficult, if at all pofTible, the ground may be prepared by the inattock ; paring off the fward by the broad end, and ftirring the foil to a good depth by the fmall mid. as advlfed for Foreft Plantations in January. Tf [April.'} SOWING FORESTS IN GENERAL. ^^f If by this month, in the firft year after pitting or otherwife preparing, the foil be found well parted and promifmg, the Fir and Larch feeds may be fown ; and this fhould be done as nearly after the manner direfted in the Nurfeiy for the fame kinds, as circumftances will allow. x\f er fowing, a conllant watching will be neceffa/y un- til the hufk be thrown off the rifmg plants ; as, until that time, many kinds of birds feem to think them a delightful food, and continue to pull thein out of the ground. If the feeds are good, fix or eight are fufficient for each pit. If it be propofed to fow a Fir or Larch plan- tation after fallow, the ground fhould be well broken, and afterwards be fown in patches at the diftance of three or four feet, as directed for fow- ing Copfes laft month, SOWING FORESTS IN GENERAL, Although we have hitherto only mentioned the fowing of a few forts of trees in the foreft, we are decidedly of opinion (as elfewhere flated) that eyery kind of forefl tree wi'l faceted better by being reared from feeds in the place where it is to grow to maturity, than by being raifed in any nurfery whatever, and from thence tranfplanted into the foreft. There are fome kinds which, even under the prefent modt: of managements fhould 348 FOREST PLANTATIONS. J[ApnL fhould always be fown, namely, the Oak, the Spanifh Chefnut, the Walnut, the Stone Pine, the Laburnum, and the Pinafter ; and to thefe may be added the Beech. The iirft roots of all thefe, as is well known, are pecuharly ftrong, and far extended. Nature feems to have expreffed, by this intelligent language, the abfoluts propriety of their remaining in the identical fpot where they have firll taken root. Whenever, therefore, thefe forts are intended to be raifed, the ground fliould be pitted and prepared for receiving the feeds ; and it fliould be fhehered by proper nurfes, as flated in the directions for fowing Acorns in the foreft. THINNING OUT SOWN FORESTS. We have already mentioned the thinning out of the fown patches in woods and copfes for lafl month J and as the diredlions there given, equally apply to the prefent fpecies of thinning, the reader is referred to them. KEEPING THE PITS OF SEEDLINGS CLEAR OF WEEDS. The abfolute neceflity of this work mufl be a- bundantly evident. In cafes where the ground had been previoufly occupied with whins, part of which April.'] PLANTING SANDY MOORS, &C. 34^ •which had probably been cut away to facilitate the making of the pits, it will be efpecially need- ful to chop away the young growths around the fown pits, that the young and tender plants be not choked. The fame care, to prevent the en- croachment of ail coarfe herbage, is required. Wherever the pits produce weeds, thefe muft be pulled out, and the plants kept as clean as if the pit were a part of the nurfery, at lead for the firfl year. The work of chopping the encroaching whins and coarfe herbage, muft be continued till the plants be well eftabliihed, and have rifen a- bove them. PLANTING SANDY MOORS, &C. WITH FIRS. In a number of places throughout the country, there are large tracts of fandy moors covered with fhort heath and coarfe grafles, yielding at prefent hardly a few fhillings per acre to the owners j which, if they had been planted even with Scots firs, would have produced a very different return. We are aware, that planting extenfive tra(5ts of fuch forts of ground has been confidered too ex- penfive for gentlemen of ordinary fortunes to fup- port. Experience, however, that infallible in- ftrudor, has taught us, that fuch could be plant- ed at any eafy price, and might be fenced for a fmall fum by the turf-v/all ditches, topped by fown I whiH %^m FOREST PLANTATIONS. \_Aprif\ whin hedf^cs, as recommended under the article Fences for lail month ; which fee. Such fences will, with a very httle help, prove a defence a- gr'inft the inroads cf cattle, till the trees to be planted grow beyond the reach of harm. Suppofe it, then, to be fixed upon to plant fuch grounds with Scotch Fir plants, which are two- year leedlings, and to plant at the rate of five thouiand on a Scots acre ^ and fuppofing that thefe cofl 2S. 6d. per thoufand ; then will the plants for an ?.cre ceil: 12s. 6d. Suppofmg that a man plant an acre, by the diamond-pointed dibble, in two days and a half, which he will per- form with eafe, and efli mating his wages at 2s. 6d. per day ; then will an acre, including the cod of the plants and expenfe of planting, quote the fum of 1 8s. 9d. The contingencies of carriage, &c. may be prefumed to make this fum one pound Sterling. The burthen of planting an hundred or two hundred acres of fuch land cannot be reckoned intolerable. But even fuppofmg that a fourth part of the trees to be ufed were to be one-year fcedhng Larches, regularly difpofed over the grounds, then would the expenfe of planting an acre amount only to the fum of 26s. ; which, we prefume, is a fum too inconfiderabie to be an op- prefTion to almoft any landed proprietor. And when we take into account the vafl increafe of value that even fuch woods would add to the e- ftatcs Apnl'] PLANTING SANDY MOORS, &C. 3151 ftates on which they are ; the lucrative profpeQs which they hold forth to rifing families ; and the immenfe advantages which they fecure by making timber plenty in the country, it is aftonifliing that more is not done in that way. By no other means, which we knov/ of, can young trees be fo quickly planted in the foreft, as by the diamond-pointed dibble. The plate of this inftrument is made of good fteel, and is four inches and a half broad where the iron handle is welded to it ; each of the other two fides of the triangle is five inches long ; the thicknefs of the plate is one fifth part of an inch, made thinner from the middle to the fides, till the edges become fliarp. The length of the iron handle is feven inches, and fo ft rong as not to bend in working with it, which will re- quire fix-eighths of an inch fquare. The iron, handle is furnifhed with a turned hilt, like the handle of a large gimlet, both in its form and manner of being fixed on it. * The planter is furnifhed with a planting-bag, tied round his waift, in which he carries the plants. A ftroke is given with the dibble, a little aflant, the point lying inwards ; the handle of the dibble is then drav/n towards the perfon, while its plate remains fteady in the ground : By this means a vacuity is formed between the back of she dibble and the ground j into which the plant- er, * Plate III. fi£, 1: 352 fOREST PLANTATIONS. \^Ajni('. er, with his other hand, introduces the roots of the feedHng plant, being careful to put them fully to the bottom of the opening : He then pulls out ilie dibble, fo as not to difplace the roots of the newly introduced plant, and gives the eafed turf a fmart ilroke with the heel ; and thus will the plant be completely firmed. The greateft error that the planter with this inftrument can run in- to in planting, is the imperfeft introdudion of the roots. Green or unpraclifed hands are apt to double the roots, or fometimes to lay them acrofs the opening, indead of putting them flraight down, as above dircded. A careful man, how- ever, will become, if not a fpeedy, at lead a good planter in a day's time ; and it is of more import- ance that he be a fure hand, than a quick one. A perfon who is of a carelefs or flovenly difpofi- tion, {hould never be allowed to handle a dibble of this kind. Befides the fandy moors covered with fhort heath now alluded to, there is alfo, particularly in Scotland, much ground covered with long heath ; and this lafl: is equally unprodu6live as the former. Such land, however, cannot gene- rally be planted on fo eafy terms, even though the fame kinds of plants are to be ufed ; be- caufe part of the encumbering heath may re- quire to be pared off to make room for the plants ', April.'] PLANTING SANDY MOORS, &C. 353 plants ; and probably the ground may require plants which have been one year nurfed to be planted in it. Thefe larger plants cannot be fo eafily fet as the feedlings above mentioned ; and the plants themfelves mufl coll a good deal more money ; or, which is the fame thing, mufl: require a much longer time in the nurfery, and much more labour to prepare them for fuch a purpofe. Yet, with all thefe enhancing circum- ftances, the price of furnifhing fuch trees, and planting an acre with them, cannot advance the fum per acre much above .4I. Sterling, allowing 4000 trees to an acre. Now, this will be found but a very fmall fum, ' when compared with the value of fuch a planta- tion after a certain period of years. For, fuppof- ing the expenfe of planting a Scots acre to be the fum of - - - r r- L. 4 o o And the fencing, by fome of the eafy methods recommended in this, work, to be - - - 0150 The amount of thefe fums, improved for 30 years, at: the rate of 5 per cent compound interelj, will be 20 12 9 And valuing the annual rent of an acre of fuch land at ;^sj,^and that fum im- _ n. proved as above, it will amount" to 16 12 5 Cairry over L. 42 o a 2 554 lOREST PLANrATioNS, ]^Jpril. Coniequently the cofl: of an acre fo pLnted, by the time that it is 30 years of ,:ge, will be - - L. 42 o a But allowing the trees to have been thinned out to nine feet apart by their 30th year, then will a Scots acre contain 670 * trees; and allow- ing thefe, at an eafy valuation, to be worth 5s. each, then will an acre fo filled be worth the funi of - 167 10 » Which leaves a clear profit of no lefs a fum than - - - L. 125 9 10 By the fame rate of calculation, an English acre will cofl: for trees and planting - - - L. 2 15 o Cod of fencing, as above - - o 15 o This fum improved, at 5 per cent, compound intereft, for 30 years, will amount to - - 1527 Rent of an acre eftimated at 4s., which, for 30 years, at 5 per cent, as above, will be - - - 13 5 9 Aggregate expenfe by 30 years L. 31 18 4 * See Table in Appendix, No. IV. showJHg the number of trees which may be planted on a Scots and on an English acre, at certain distances. April'] PLANTING SANDY MOORS, ScC. 355 Aggregate expenfe brought forward L.31 18 4 But if the trees be thinned out to nine feet apart, as above, then will an Englifh acre contain 537, which, valued as above, will be equal to 134 5 o Leaving a clear profit, at the above period, of no lefs a fum than L, 102 6 8 Calculations of the increafmg value of fuch plantations might be carried on to many fubfe- quent years ; but we have faid enough fully to eftablifh the advantages of planting, under the cir- cumftances alluded to. We have taken no ac- count of the thinnings ; thefe mufl doubtlefs have been worth a confiderable fum from the 15th to the 30th year of the age of the plantation, and will fully cover the expenfe of pruning an^d thin- ning, together with like contingencies. Even if ground of far greater annual value were planted, and with plants more expenfive than the above, the profits could eafdy be fhown to be an objecl of much importance. We have known feveral inflances of ground, of a quality to bear Oaks, Afh, Elm and Beech, and which had been planted with thefe as principals, and with Larches as nurfes, where, at 3c years of age, the principals were eflimared at 15s. each, one with another. But, fuppoiing the worth on- ly I OS. each, that is, the hardwood kinds above Z 2 enumerated ; ^^6 FOREST PLANTATIONS. \_ApriL enumerated ; and that by its 30th year, the plan- tation has been thinned out as above ; then will a Scots acre be worth - - L. 335 o o And allowing the yearly rent of it to be iL 10s. ; this fum, in the form of an annuity for 30 years, at 5 per re;aA compound intereft, will quote 99 13 o Suppofe that the trees and planting coft - - L. 10 o o And the fencing - i o o This fum, improved at the rate of 5 2)er cent, compound intereft for 30 years, will give - - 47 10 o L. 158 3 o Thus will a profit arife of no lefs a fum than - - - - 176 170 It will appear from the above examples, that the better the quality of the land to be planted, the greater will be the advantages ultimately ob- tained. Never thelefs, we are far from advifmg the planting of fuch lands as may be fit for grow- ing corn crops ; there being abundance of other land, all over the country, * fit for the purpofes of planting* WOODS * See Table of Waste Lands in Scotland, Appendix, No. Ill, JjprtL'] WOODS AND COP3E5. 357 WOODS AND COPSES. Continue the fowing out of mixed Copfes, and alfo finifh the fowing of Oak Copfes, ns di- redled for laft month. It has already been no- ticed, that the rows of patches fown laft month fhould be diftinguilhed by flakes, in order to pre- vent miftakes in the cropping of the fpaces be- tween. Thefe, wherever intended, fhould now he cropped. If potatoes be the crop intended, fome of the early varieties which have fliort shaxcs are mofl proper ; becaufe tall or long growing flems are very injurious to the young trees. The lines of potatoes fnould not be nearer thofe of the trees than twenty inches. We have formerly advifed to plough down the dung before fowing copfe woods. The potatoes mufl therefore be planted with the dibble, as in gardening. Three drills or rows will be fufScient for the fix-feet fpace. In cafes where it is intended to crop fuch fpaces with field turnip for feeding cattle, it will be pro- per to defer it for two months to come ; or at leaft till the firfl of June. We, however, would ^5^ WOODS AND COPSES. [^Apr'tL rather wifh to fee the garden yellow turnip grown in fuch fituations ; becaufe they are not fo fevere for the ground, neither are their tops fo large, nor fo apt to encroach upon the young trees ; and the weight of crop, even for feeding cattle, will not be very much lefs than the other. Swedifli turnip for feeding horfes are alfo a better crop for fuch places, than the common field turnips are. The Swedifh turnip fhould be fown in drills about the fecond week of May. If carrots are determined on for the crop, they fhould be fown about the lafl: week of this month. Three drills of thefe, as advifed for potatoes, will be found fuiBciently heavy between the lines of trees. The beginning of this month Is a proper time to fow lettuce for feeding fwine. The beft me- thod is in drills, nine inches apart, leaving a fpacc of eighteen inches on either fide ; and thus there will be fix rows of lettuce between the lines of trees ; and the lettuce plants fhould be thinned out to fix or eight inches in the row. When there is a want of nurfery ground, the fpaces between the lines of patches may be employ- ed in that way to nurfe plants for a year, or for two years. Thefe, howerer, will prove much more fcourging for the crops than cfculent vege- tables. Trees, of any defcription whatever, are more nearly allied in nr.ture to the tree feeds '•• • ibv/n. Apnl.2 WOODS AND COPSES. 359 fown, thnn any kind of culinary vegetable is ; and conlequently, by requiring from the foil the fame fort of food, muft tend to exhauft the land more than any crop of fuch vegetables is likely to do r Befides, the fucculent and fpreading ftems and leaves of thefe laft are very ufeful in keeping the furface moid and foft. Planting of nurfery articles, therefore, between the lines of patches, fhould only be reforted to in cafes of neceffity. Some writers have advifed to fow the fpaces clofe up with crops of grain. Such a plan mull receive eur decided negative ; becaufe the feed- ling trees would thereby be overlliadowed. if not deftroyed. Neither, in this cafe, can the ground around the patches be wrought with the hoe i the want of which operarion muft tend very much to diminifh their vigour. Indeed, unlefs the Crop to be fown can keep its place fecureiy, fo as not to injure the plants by overhanging them, it ihould not be thought of. Long-pod, Windfor, or fome other of the (tout-growing kinds of b 3ans, are the only grain crops that we would ever wifli to fee fown among young copfes ; and even they Ihould never be fown nearer the rows of the coppice plants than twenty mches or two feet. If fuch grounds are to be cropped with beans, they ihould be planted at the above diftances from the rows of trees ; and two rows will be quite fuf- ficient for a fpace. 360 FENCES. £April, FENCES. PLANTING EVERGREEN HEDGES. It is now a fit feafon for planting out all Ever- green Hedges. Where difagreeable objeds exifl: in any point or diredion, they may, perhaps, be covered from the view by Evergreen Hedges, e- fpecially if fituated at a confiderable dillance. Hedges Ihould never, indeed, if it can poffibly be avoided, be ufed near a refidence ; becaufe they give a confined and formal air to the grounds. In cafes where difagreeable objefts mull be co- vered near the houfe, a neat fhrubbery, or perhaps groups of trees, will anfwer better. But when the end of a houfe, an old wall, or fimilar objeds are required to be covered, common ivy, Ayrlhire rofe, or evergreen thorn, may be ufed with good cffea. Planting Holly Hedges, Hollies are the beft for making durable fences to afford the greateft degree of flielter, efpecially during the winter months. No plant, as a hedge plant, endures the fhears better than the Holly. It ]4pri^-2 PLANTING HOLLY HEDGES. 361 It may therefore be ^carried to a great height, and confequently is highly fitted for fituations where ftrength and fheltcr are required. It lux- uriates moft in rich fandy loams, although there are few foils in which it will not grow. After planting, the Holly makes but very indifferent progrefs for a few years ; but after it becomes eftablifhed in the ground ; or, about the third or fourth year after planting, no fence whatever will outgrow the Holly. The fame method of planting, recommended for the thorn, will anfwer for the Holly. It how- ever may, in fome cafes, be neceffary to plant hedges of it upon the furface without a ditch, as upon the back of a funk fence, or the like. In fuch cafes, it (hould be laid, as recommended for trees in the nurfery. The mod proper plants for fuch purpofes, are thofe which have been nurfed two years from the tranfplanted beds, or four-year old plants. Such Ihould be planted at nine or ten inches apart. We have already fpoken of the care neceffaiy in preferving the adhering earth, at the roots of evergreens lifted from the nurfery ground. Such care is efpecially important, in regard to the Holly. It is very hurtful to Holly plants to be lifted, and to have their roots expofed in dry weather. It is therefore proper to delay lifting them, if poflible, till damp weather: But if they Hiuft be lifted in time of drought, their roots I fhould 362 FENCES. [^ApriL fhoiild be puddled J as recommended under the ar- ticle Nurse?^, for February ; which fee. Planting Yew Hedges, Yew Hedges ought alfo now to be planted. They are moft properly adapted for divifion fences in the nurfery or the garden, or for ornamental evergreen hedges. While a Yew hedge makes ^n excellent fhelter, it is far too inoffenfive for a fence to divide or prote£l a field, where plants, well armed with thorns, often prove ineffectual. Yew bears the fhears as well as any plant known ; and, in the charader of a hedge, it may be conduced to any height ; but its growth is very flow. It will thrive in almofl any foil. The method, recommended for planting the Holly on level ground, will alfo do for the Yew. Plants which are twelve or fifteen inches high, that have good roots, will anfwer well : Such fhould fland twelve or fourteen inches apart in the line of hedge. If dwaff hedges of Yew are required, fuch plants as are raifed from cuttings are to be preferred ; becaufe they grow more dwarf than thofe which are raifed from feeds. Planting Evergreen-Privet Hedges, Like the ye.v, the Privet is fit only for dividin^f- hedges in the nurfery, or for dv/arf ornamental hedges. April,2 PLANTING EVERGREEN HEDGES. 363 hedges. Good plants, two years from cuttings, may be planted a foot apart in the line of hedge. The Privet will grow in almofl any foil j and it endures the fhears with great patience. Tlanting of Common Laurel Hedges. The Laurel forms a delightful fcreen hedge ; and, indeed, is fit only to be ufeii in that charac- ter, or as a fhelterer. The Laurel fhould not be planted too clofe together ; — from eighteen inches to two feet is near enough. Neither the fhears nor the fwitching bill are to be ufed upon the Laurel Hedge : It muft be kept within bounds, by fhort- ening the diforderly branches with the knife. Planting Hedges of Tree Box, No plant makes more beautiful dwarf orna- mental dividing hedges, than the Tree Box, efpe- cially the variegated varieties. Like the commoa Laurel, it fhould never be clipped or fwitched ; but the ftraggling branches fhould be fliortened in by the knife, fo as to allov/ the fmall twigs and the leaves to exprefs their own natural beauty. If the Box plants be a foot or eighteen inches high, they may be planted a foot apart in the line •f hedge, l^pruce 364 FENCESi, \_Apil Spruce Fir Hedges. Wherever fheltering hedges of evergreen trees are required, the Spruce will be found to anfwer well. The plants (hould, however, only be plant- ed for a temporary fhelter, or as a means of bring- ing forward a better ; becaufe they foon get bare at the bottom. For the above purpofe, the Spruce fhould be planted eighteen inches apart. BUILDING WALLS. Every defcription of walls requiring to be built with mortar, either of lime or clay, fhould now be carried on with vigour. It is better for any wall to dry gradually, and even rather flowly, than o- therwife. The walls which are built at this fea- fon will have this advantage. CLEANING HEDGES. The mofl: of the winter-drefled hedges, together with thofe which were then planted, will now re- quire to be cleaned. Even though the rifmg weeds make little appearance, it is better to de- ftroy them early, than to allow them to get efta- bllfhed, and then to cut them down, after they have robbed and overridden the hedge. After winter April.'] CLEANING HEDGES. ^^^5 winter planting, any couch-grafs, or other root weeds, will, by this time, be beginning to (how their heads. If thefe are once allowed to become interwoven with the roots of the thorn plants, it is next to impoffible to eradicate them; but if taken in time, and carefully kept down, they will be eafi- ly overcome. A little well-timed labour now, will prevent much after-trouble and vexation. MAY t MAY. M^^'2 '^"^ NtjfesEky. 3^9 ^avt THE NURSERY, The moft pl-effing work In the Nurfery, at this time, is to finifh the planting out of any remain- ing evergreen feedlings, rooted layers, and the like. SOWING FIR SEEDS. In all cafes where the fowing of Fir and Larch feeds has not been already completed, it fhould now be done j and in no cafe fhould it be delayed beyond the firll or fecond week of this month. It is of much importance to the nurferyman to fow all his Fir and Larch feeds, as well as all others which require protection from the birds, £o as to rife about the fame time ; becaufe his labour "will thus be greatly abridged. A a WEEDINv ;^yO 'liti NURSERY. t^^lilj/' WEEDING SEED-BEDS. By this time the firs, and the feeds which were fown lafl month, will have a number of weeds appearing among them. Thefe are to be picked out with great care ; and the more early that this work is performed, the lefs injury will the crop fuftain, either in refped of the ground being im- poveriflied, or the Zr/m??^ plants being choked up. Indeed, if the firfl weeding of the feed-beds be delayed till the weeds come to a confiderable fize, the crop will be much hurt, if not quite ruined. Even a thick rifing crop of feedlings is often con- verted into a thin one, by delaying the weeding ; while a thin crop is much improved by a timeous and continued attention to weeding. A nursery- man, who can negleft his young trees in the above refped, or even walk through his grounds when his young plants languifh under weeds, without the fevereft compun6lions, exciting him to relieve ihem, is in no refped entitled to the name which ' heaffumes. RELIIVING INCRUSTED VEGETATING SEEDS. It not unfrequently happens, that the land in which fir and larch feeds have been fown, becomes battered by heavy rains. This will certainly hap- pen, iWfly.] RELIEVING INCRUSTED SEEDS. 371 pen, if rain fall immediately after fowing, before the furface become dry ; but if it once be fully dried after fowing, and before the rain fall, it will feldom or never batter. Suppofe, however, the feed-beds are battered, fo that the tender feeds cannot rife with freedom, the befl: way to, relieve them is to draw over them a wooden roller, (luck over with lath nails at half an inch diftance, and driven in fo as to remain half an inch beyond the wood of the roller. The roller fliould not be more than thirty inches long, and not more than thirty pounds weight. ^ By drawing this roller along the one fide of the battered bed, while walking in the alley, and returning with it over the other, an ordinary fized bed will be complete- ly relieved. * Some people rake their battered beds, in order to ena- ble the seeds to rise. This is a most dangerous and destruc- tive method of relieving vegetating plants. From their ten- der state, the smallest twist breaks them over, and conse- quently destroys them. We have experienced much advan- tage from using the light, armed roller, here recommended. It is, however, much better when no such are required. The surest way to guard against the need of such means, is to sow the seeds in such weather, as that the surface after sowing will be fully dry before rain come on. There is no dispensing with this precaution, when it is wished to secure an equal and good crop of seedlings. A a 2 PLANTING j;S 'TME NURSERY. \Ma1/. PLANTING OUT LARGE EVERGREENS IN THE NURSERY. It IS frequently neceiTary, and generally dcfir* able* to have large Evergreen plants ready to re- move to particular fituations In the park and in the lawn. Large Evergreens, that can be remov- ed with certainty of fuccefs, can never be fo well procured by tranfplanting from fhrubberies, or o- ther places where they have been for fome years cflablifhed, as by preparing them in the Nurfery. All fuch, therefore, as it is intended to remove* perhaps a year hence, to fuch fituations as above noticed, fliould be now replanted into a piece of the foftefl and richest of the nurfery ground, in of- dtr that they may make a profufion of fmall fibres^ by the arrival of the lifting time. Phnts of the above defcription fhould ftand-free and unconfin- cd on all fides. A few of them, therefore, will fill a confiderable fpace of ground in the Nurfery. This fpace, however, ought cheerfully to be giv- en; for, if they be crowded here, it will require feveral years before they recover their verdure on the fides which were confined, if ever they reco- ver it. Such Evergreens, as Hollies of forts. Yews, Laurels of forts. Boxes, or the like, which it is wifhed to prepare for large plants, for occafional de- mands Mai/,'^ THE NURSERY. 373 mands of the above defcriptlon, fiiould, if they have flood two or three years fince they were planted out, be now replanted in fuch foil as above recommend- ed. They muft, like the above, have plenty of room on all fides, left they become naked on any of their fides. There are few articles on which the nobleman or gentleman's nurferyman can put his hand, which, at the time of hfting to their ulti- ynate ftation, are more anxioufly defired to prof- per, than the above kinds of plants ; therefore, too much pains can hardly be beftowed on their preparation. PIGGING AKD CROPPING VACANT GROUND. By the removal of the Evergreens to the fore ft plantations, there will now be feveral vacant quarters in the Nurfery. Some part of thefe will be required in June for fowing Elm feeds ; fome in September, for tranfplanting Firs and other E- vergreens, as well as for fowing feeds from the rot-heap. Such ground as is intended for thefe purpofps, fhould, without lofs of time, be digged over as rough as poiTible ; and fuch part as will not be required before the fpring months, may now be prepared for yellow turnips, late peas, favoys, or potarocs, according as circumftances niav point out= WATCH- 374- THE NURSERY. [_Mai/» WATCHING THE BIRDS. This will now be a mofi: important work. The nrfl fown Firs and Larches will jufl be breaking the ground, or hriering with the hufks of the feeds flill on their tops, — a crifis moft inviting to the chaffinch, the green linnet or green grolbeak, the red linnet or greater redpole, the yellow-hammer, and even the iky-lark. Not one of thefe is therefore to be allowed to alight upon the beds : nor, in- deed, ought any other bird. This will require attention from the break of day to funfet, with- out intermifllon, till the plants throw off the hufl^s. This is certainly a hard part of the nurfe- ry man's duty j but it is a moft indifpenfable one. DESTROYING MICE. After Acorns, Chefnuts, Beech-maft, Ilazles, Nuts or Fir feeds, have briered, mice are no long- er to be dreaded as enemies to them. In refped to thefe, therefore, the nurferyman's anxiety and labour may for fome time be difpenfed with ; and, whoever has had experience of the talk, will think it high time. HOEING AND CLEANING. The rifing weeds, on every hand, will be call- ing loudly for the application of the hoe. This May.'] THE NURSERY. j/:> is a work not to be difpenfed with. Every dry day, or even part of a dry day, muft be improv- ed ; for, if the weeds be allowed to get ahead at this time, farewel to all pleafure or profit in the Nurfery for the feafon ! Nothing furely can be more galling to a nurferyman, who has any feel- ing, than to fee his ground overrun with weeds. When he ceafes to be moved with this fight, he is callous indeed ! Sometimes, however, it is not his fault. From our previous obfervations and direclions in this department, it will appear that a very fmall fpace of ground requires a vaft deal of labour and attention. No nurferyman fhould therefore be oppreiTed with too much to do, or be refufed a fufficient command of hands, to ac- compHfli every piece of work in its proper feafon. Indeed, the mafter who gives his nurferyman too little help to do his work completely, is his own puniflier ; becaufe, in that cafe, it mud be hur- ried over in an imperfed manner, and fometimes will not be done at all. If the nurferyman has any feeling or fenfe of charafter, he becomes dif- heartened ; the confequence is, that he takes the rirfl opportunity to move from the place. A like conduct to another fervant, in a fubfequent year, produces a like removal. The perfon, therefore, who works the ground, is conftantly unacquaint- ed with its powers j his attachments to, and in- terefl: in it, are flight, and never get eftablifhed. I^ ^^6 THE NURSERY. JiMo^, It IS, m truth, of the utmoft advantage to the fturfery, to be under one fyftem of management ; and greatly to the credit, both of the employer and his nurferyman, that he remain/or ever in the fame place ! We may be permitted here to re- mark, that neither mafter nor fervant fliould quit vnth one another on any supposed ground of dif- ference, nor even upon slight offences on either fide. He knows little of the world, either as mafter or man, who experts to get through it, •without encountering difficulties of this kindj and he who cannot pafs over a flight offence, gives iiimfelf unneceffary pain an4 trouble. ORNA- M^^'l ORNAMENf AL PLANTATIONS. 37^ ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS- PLANTING OUT LARGE EVERGREENS ON THE LAWN, &C. The planting of fuch mufb be forthwith com- pleted. In the difpofing of thefe. Taste has its fulleft play. It would, perhaps, be impoflible to convey an idea of the exaft pofition in which the plants to be ufed Ihould be placed. The general flatnefs, or the number and degree of the inequa- lities of the ground ; the number and qualities of adjoining plantations, together with their relative fttuations; a diftant village, or a diftant parifh church or fpire; or, perhaps, a farm-houfe ; or far diftant mountains or hills, with a variety of other objeQs and circumftances — muft determine the tinges of hue, the pofition, the number, natural heights, and qualities of the plants to be ufed. Any attempt, therefore, to lay down, in this place, the exa6t fituations in which the refpcdive Ever- greens fiiould be placed, would be ridiculous. It' '37$ ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. [May. It may, however, be humbly fuggefted, that the Park, or the Lawn, fhould never be daubed too full of groups, or of fingle plants. When there are too many put in, the whole park ac- quires a confined air and appearance ; and, what- ever be the intrinfic worth of the plants individu- ally confidered, the eye turns from the appear- ance with diflike. Single plants, it is prefumed, never produce in the mind that fociable feeling which a fmall group creates. Groups, however, fhould never alTume any regular figure, or appear at all artifi- cial. The eye and general tafte require, that they be after the manner of Nature's works, wild and irregular. Groups, therefore, fhould vary in num- ber, and in ftature — in fhades of colour and in figure, as they recede from, or approach, the Man- fion-houfe. The flowering Evergreen fhrubs of low growth, (fuch as the Laurustinus, and diflerent fpecies of Rhododendron), fhould be placed nearer the eye, or perhaps on the brow of a fomewhat diflant knoll, or on the brink of a rivulet near a walk, that, in the flroli of the evening, the wanderer may be furprifed and pleafed. It would be in vain to attempt the divcrfity and variety above hinted at, in a fmall piece of ground of perhaps an acre or two. Then, all is probably fsen at a glance. In fuch fmall places, therefore, the May.] ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. 375 the plants and variety mufl: be fuited to the near- nefs of fituation, and other circumflances. In whatever pofition it be found neceflary to plant Evergreen trees and Ihrubs, care mufl: be taken to procure the requisite foils, if they arc not naturally prefent. TREATMENT OF NEW PLANTED DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. Late-planted hedge-row, and ornamental single trees, fhould now be examined, to fee if they are windwaved, which they are liable to be from their height. Such as are found windwaved are to be placed upright, and fo held till dry earth be triU' died in around them at the roots, and made mo- derately firm, by beating it downwards with the end of a flick. If the fituations in which thefe or the Ever- greens have been planted, be naturally gravelly or porous ; and if dry weather fucceed, they will require occafional waterings ; and more efpecial- ly, if the plants are of large fize. This attention will conduce, not only to keep the plants alive, but to give them more strength and bolder ver» dure. GROF 5$^ ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. lMa^\ CROPPING THE GROUND AMONG NEW PLANT- EP ORNAMENTAL STRIPES, &C. In fuch fcreen or other ornamental plantations as have been prepared by fallow, trenching or digging, and in which it is intended to raife field or yellow turnip, the end of this month is the proper time for fowing. A fmall patch between the plants in the middle of the fpace only, (hould be fown. Potatoes alfo may yet be planted a- mong them, or late cabbage for feeding cattle in winter, PREPARING GROUND FOR FUTURE PLANTATIONS. We have before noticed the intimate relation between this fpecies of plantation and ordinary foreft plantation ; and as we have already, under this head, as well as under Forest Plantation for May^ treated largely on the preparation of grounds for future plantations, we (hall, for the prefent, refer the reader to thefj places; with on- ly further noticing, that in all cafes where an im- prover is preparing a narrow (Iripe, by throwing up a ditch on each fide, and turning the earth inr ^v'ards, he (hould be careful to fr rm, at all pro- per places, outlets for the water, which muft o- therwifc be confined among the roots of the trees, from May.'} ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. ^%t from the nature of the fituatlon. In many calesj it may be neceflary to make an open drain in the middle of the fpace, with crofs outlets as above. In a vafl many old ftripes which we have feen-> the trees have become fickly, and have even died out, from the above defed ; although it is of a nature to be guarded againft by a little refle^ioflj and a trifling expenfe. Fs)REit ^^2, FOREST TLANTATIONS. t^fai/< FOREST PLANTATIONS. PLANTING EVERGREENS. All the plantations which require to be finifh- cd with Evergreen trees, Ihould be immediately completed. Indeed, in but very few cafes is it advifable to leave the planting of fuch undone till this late period of the feafon. Damp weather for removing and planting thefe is now greatly to be defired. If it be neceffary to go on with it in dry weather, puddle mufl be rcforted to, as direded for laft month 5 which fee. CROPPING WITH VEGETABLES AMONG FOREST PLANTATIONS. Wherever cropping with potatoes among new planted foreft trees after fallow is intended, they ihould now be planted. Turnip of various forts may alfo now be fown. For further particulars, f«e Ornamental Plantations for this month. PRi« May.'] FOREST plantations. 383 PREPARING THE GROUND FOR FUTURE PLANTATIONS. It has frequently been noticed, that this is the befl: feafon of the year for preparation of the land for future plantations ; by Pitting, Faltowirig, and Fating and Burning. This fubjed will there- fore divide itfelf into many particulars under thefe heads. It muft be obvious to every one who has been engaged in cultivating foreft timber, that trees grow, for feveral years after planting, with far greater rapidity, in land v/hich has been prepared by fallow, than in equal foils after pitting ; and far better after pitting, than by being merely flit- ted in, Neverthelefs, we would by no means wiih to be underftood as recommending generally the preparation of ground for forefl plantations by fallow. Indeed, the expenfe would be extra- vagant ; and, were it otherwife, the work is im- pradicable. Generally fpeaking, fallow for fc- reft plantation is not to be looked for. Pitting may be confidered as the moft perfcd method of preparation that extenfive trails of ground for foreft plantation can receive ; and that, too, on- ly where hard-wood trees, as principals, are ei- ther to be planted or fown, it having been already mentioned that the nurfes may be slittcd in with propriety. 3S4 POREST PLANTATIONS* iMai/, propriety. Indeed, in the event of fowing forefls with all forts of trees, pitting mufl: be reforted to. Paring and burning, therefore, together with its concomitant fallow, is intended principally for grounds to be ufed either as Coppice, Qrove, or Ornamental Plantations. Paring and Burning, This fpecies of preparation, as above hinted, is principally to be adopted in preparing for the fore- mentioned kinds of plantation. Yet, in many inftances. It may be required for completing a diftrid of foreft plantation, or when it is requir- ed to advance with more rapidity ; and it is efpe- cially ufeful in mofly, or fub-mofly foils, which are covered with coarfe grafses. The fpeedieft and cheapeft, as well as the moft efFeOiual method of paring, is by the plough. Any ordinary plough may be made to do the work, by fimply enlarging the fock to nine inch- es at the back end, and making the cutting point and angles very fharp. The coulter fhould be made fharp on the point, and efpecially fo where it has to cut the fward. When the plough is du- ly prepared as above, the fward may be pared with it as thin as is wifhed. The turf, however, fhould not be more than two inches thick, other- wife it wowld require fo long a time, to dry, that fhc Mat/.'} FOREST PLANTATIONS. 3S5 the feafon for burning, and other operations, might be loft. It will be found a great means of forwarding its preparation for burning, to crofs- cut it, perhaps a fortnight after the firft plough- ing ; only, the whole fhould be dry at the time of performing the crofs-ploughing. After the turf is dry enough for burning, the furrows are to be lighted on the fide of the field from which the wind is blowing ; and it is gene- rally proper to wait till it blow from the mofl fteady point. The whole is to be attended to during this operation ; and, when the progrefs of the fire is impeded at any place, perhaps by a damp fpot, it muft be lighted on the other fide. So foon as the burning is over, and the heat a- bated, the land fhould be wrought like ordinary fallow ; being, however, careful not to plough too deep for the prefent. Before the winter ar- rive, it fhould be laid up in ridges, of fuch a breadth as circumftances may require; and the ridges fhould lye in fuch a diredion as to lay the whole furface at leaft, as dry as poffible. Some furfaces anfwer better to be pared in au- tumn or winter, and left with the earth fide ex- pofed during frofts and rains : The crofs-cutting of fuch is generally deferred till fummer, j^ft be- fore the turf is to be burnt. Where the foil is unfavourable for burning, this method will be found of great ufe 5 becaufe the adion of the B b weather. 3S6 rojlEST PLANTAtlONS. ^Ma^, weather, during winter and fpring, will have f^ecd the turf in a great meafure from the adhering par- ticles of earth, and fo left it in a ftate more fit for burning than otherwife it could be. Many cafes will neverthelefs occur, where the methods of paring above recommended will not be practicable ; in fome inftances, for want of firmnefs, and, in others, from the unevennefs of the furface : in which cafes, recourfe muft be had to paring in the ordinary way ; which is too well known, to require defcription. If the grounds now under confideration be found very much inclined to mofs ; or, if they are too foft for being planted or fown in the following fpring with trees or tree feeds, a crop of oats may be taken, which will give the furface a more firm confiftency, and reduce the mofly fubftance more perfectly to earth. After the feparation of the crop of oacs, the land Ihould receive a furrow, in which it (hould lye till fpring, when it is to be finally prepared for planting or fowing. We are aware that many arguments have been advanced againfl burning the coarfe fwards of fuch grounds as above noticed. But experi- ence, that ftubborn and incontrovertible argu- ment> has led us to recommend it as highly ufc- ful on fuch foils, in raifmg trees ; and we have at prefent no further bufmefs with it. Maif.Jl ?OR£ST PLANTATIONS. 387 FALLOWING GROUNDS. If the grounds propofed to be fummer-fallbwed for the purpofes at prefenr under view, will at all bear a crop of oats, it fhould be taken previous to attempting the fallowing. Without a crop to re- duce and rot the fward, there is, in many cafes, hardly a poffibility of bringing it to a good mould in one fealon. And if the fward cannot be pro- perly reduced, and the weeds deflroyed, without two years labour, the advantage is evidently oa the fide of taking the oats, which will allow it to be reduced with eafe in the following feafon. All ftripes of plantation, or parts of a large mcfs, which are fituated near a refidence, ought to be prepared by fallow, if it be required that the trees {hould rife with fpeed in their infancy. In cafes where their early progrefs can be confidered a^ a matter of indifference, pitting, as for ordinary foreft plantation, may be adopted. PREPARING GROUNDS BY PITTING, BOTH FOR, PRINCIPALS AND NURSES. This method, next to fallow, is the beft. If the defign be extenfive, and the foil vailons, the methods of man?ger'.?ent attend.mt on pitring mull ▼ary in proportion. The diftances at which the B b 3 pits^ 3^3 FOREST PLANTATIONS. l[_Mai/. pits are to be made, muft be regulated by the clrcumftances of foil and llielter, or the want of it. On fach parts as are very much expofed, the pits fhoLild not be at a greater diflance than three and a half feet, nor nearer than three feet. On places lefs expofed, and where the foil is good, they may ftand at the diftance of four and a half, or, in very fins land, and where the fhelter is greater, at five feet diflance ; and this is the greatell diflance at which trees fhould fland in any new planted grounds, however favourable the foil and fituation may be. In a plantation of the extent and variety of foils at prefent under our view, it cannot be expeded that the fame rule of pitting will every where equal- ly apply ; neither v/ould the fuccefs be equal, if all foils were pitted in the fame manner. In light, porous foils, the furface of the pit fhould be pared thin off, and laid in the bottom of the lafl made pit, with its green fide undermofl, and the earth laid on above it ; becaufe, by this means, the fvvard will be fully reduced to earth by the planting feafon in the following fpring ; and the foil will be, in fome meafure, fallowed in the pits. This method is effential in all thin foils. But if the foil to be pitted be flrong, flubborn clay, with a tough fward, it may be proper to plac" May,'] FOREST PLANTATIONS. 389 place the turf, pared ofF as above, in the bottom of the lafl: made pit, and only a fmall portion of the foil above it, in order to facilitate the rotting of the fward ; but the remainder of the foil from the pit muft be laid on the furface, at the edge of it, that it may there receive all the benefit of the fummer and winter weather, to pulverize and meliorate it ; while, at the fame time, the fides of the pit, and the portion of foil placed over the turf in the bottom of the pit, are equally expofed to the beneficial adion of the air. But, in cafes where the furface is too ftronjx and coarfe to be reduced to earth, by the time of planting in the above manner, and yet where the foil is a ftrong clay, as above, the furface muft be pared off as thin as pofTible ; and is to be difcard- ed. In this cafe, the whole contents of the pit, befide, are to be laid upon the furface at its edge, which will expofe all the infide of the pit, toge- ther with its contents, to the action of the wea^ ther; will likewife greatly pulverize and meli- orate the earth, and make it a more fit receptacle for the purpofed occupier than any other method of management will. In fpots of land, which have formerly lain in a wet or four flate, and which have a coarfe fpritty fward upon them, the furface of the pit is to be thrown afide, and its contents expofed as above. Indeed, fuch foils, although of a lighter nature thaa 39© FOREST PLANTATIONS. [^Mdl/, than that previoufly noticed, require, even more than it, the fummer*s melioration. Such portions of land as are of the nature of mofs, will require a very different treatment from either of the above. It is well known to every one, that mofs dug out, and expofed to the drought of fumfner, forms peat : And there are few peo- ple convtrfant with plants, and their food and vegetation, who does not know, that peats fas fuch) are totally Incapable of fupporting vegetable life. If, then, the furface of mofly land were pared ofl', and the contents expofed as above, in the cafe of llubborn clay, and four bog earth, its contents would bff formed into a fubflance far lefs capable of fupporting vegetable life, than before it was dug out. Wherever, then, mofTy ground occurs, the furface of the pit is to be pared oft three or four inches deep in 2i whole turf; the pits are to be dug juft now, the one being filled out of the other, excepting the turf pared off as above, which is to be placed carefully above the mofly earth in the lafl filled up pit, fo as to ex- clude the fevere adion of the drought of fummer; for, if the contents of the pit be expofed to this aclion, they become hardened, and converted into a fubllance nearly refembling peat, even although containing a confiderable portion of earthy par- ticles ; while, if protected from the diought by the covering of turf, they undergo a gradual de- compofitionj Ma^,1 FOREST PLANTATIONS. 391 compofitionj which they never would have expe- rienced under different circumflanccs ; and the pits villi thus be better fitted to receive plants in the coming fpring, than by any other manner of pitting fuch foils that we are acquainted with. Neverthelefs, if fuch moffy grounds are of confiderable extent, we would recommend their being pared and burnt, as above advifed ; and the more fo, if they be very much inclined to mofs, and efpecially if they be covered with very coarfe grafles and carices. The depth of the pits, in the prefent cafe, ought not to be above a foot. The depth of the pits for the clay foil, provided there be no variation of quality from the furface downwards, may alfo be a foot j but if the foil change, at fix or eip^ht inches, to a crude unfriendly ^ubflratum, the pit fhould no*- be deepened above two or three inches into fuch Tub- foil : However, in pirt-ng any bnd, the fwird of which contains all the ioil apja crtly r: ■". r fup- porting vegetation, it will be ntceflary 10 .: > he fward in the bottom of the pit, and cover 1: n'ich three or four inches of the bad fubfoil, in order to promote the decompofition of the fward. The breadth of the pits ought not to be lefs than twelve inches ; nor need they be more than fifteen. In digging any pit, the bottom fhould be ktpr as wide as the top. On many rocky fpots of the propofed planta- tion. 39- rOREST PLANTATIONS. [Mi7Z/. tion, pitting may be impraflicable, on account of the {tones which are mixed with the earth. In fuch cafes, the planting-mattock muft be reforted to. By this inftrument, you Ikin ofF the furface for fix or eight inches diameter, and with the pick- end dig down fix or eight inches deep, bringing up any loofe flones to the furface ; by which means a place will be prepared for the reception f the plant, little inferior to a pit, and that, too, where a pit would be made with a great deal of difficulty by the fpade in the ordinary way. In- deed, this inftrument may be ufed in many cafes, when the plants to be planted are of fmall fize, fuch as one-year Larch feedlings one year nurfed, or two-year Scots Firs one year nurfed ; and the expenfe is much lefs than by the fpade, as ftated more fully under the following article. PITTING GROUND FOR PRINCIPALS ONLY. It has been hinted above, that preparation by fallow, or pitting, is ufeful in fecuring more per- fedly the growth of the plants, and in giving them a more rapid progrefs in the firft period af- ter their planting. But it has not appeared to us, that preparation, of any kind whatever, has alter- ed the natural value of the timber, or increafed its longevity a fmgle year. Trees that we planted Jwenty.fix years ago with the diamond-pointed dibble. Mat/.'] PITTING GROUND, kc, 393 dibble, as mentioned above, are juft now fully as healthy, as tall, and as vigorous as thofe which were planted after pitting, in the fame foil and climate, at the fame time ; although the pitted plants were feveral years nurfed, while the others were only feedlings. Pitting, therefore, vi'ill not materially affed the fize of the plants, or give them, after the lapfe of twenty years, an afcend- ancy of fize over thofe planted at the fame time in equal foil by the dibble, provided the fmall dibbled plants can rife at all for the herbage. We admit, that young plants planted in the foreft by the diamond-pointed dibble, or by the T method, are more hable to die the firft year after planting, than thofe that are planted after pitting. Hence, we would recommend the pitting, (even in the mofl extenfive forefts), for the hard-wood kinds. The obfeivations which v/e have made above, re- fpeding general pitting, will regulate the manner of pitting under the prefent head. The diflance of the pits from each other mud be determined by the nature of the foil. But, as formerly cbferved, if the principals are planted at the diflance of nine {ce", they will, at fuch a dif- tance, after the removal of the nurfes, have fuffi- cient room to grow to timber of confiderable magnitude ; or, at leaf!:, to fuch a fize as would be ufeful for many purpofes. If, however, the land to be planted were very favourable 394 FOREST PLANTATIONS. \Mct1/, favourable to growing larches, the hard w^.od might be planted at fifteen feet a^art, and the in- terfpaces be filled up with larch nurfcs ; fome of which might be allowed to grow with the princi- pals till they were of very coni'clc nb'e fize : Thefe, when felled out, would allow the hard wood to ftand at fuch a didance as to becon^e very lar^e timber trees. By purluing this method, a vafl: extent of ground can be planted at a fmall x- penfe, and with certainty of fuccefs. We have, in obfervations on this fubjetl in January, men- tioned, that plants, cither of Scots firs, or larches for nurfes, (hould be fmall plants. Indeed, large plants, with very bulhy roots, can never he flitted in with propriety, but plants, of the fizes former- ly mentioned, certainly can. PITTING rOR SOWING ACORNS AMONG NEW PLANTED NURSES, &C, We have formerly mentioned the advantages of raifing foreft timber trees from feeds without tranf- plantation, efpecially oaks, and other forts former- ly mentioned. Such may be fown in the fame fpring in which the nurfes are planted, or defer- red for a feafon or two, according as the circum- flances of an expofed or a fheltercd fituation may direct. The diftance between the pits, for fowing a- corns May,"] UTTING GROUND, S:c. 35 JJ corns in the foreft, mufV depend on the ultimate views : If it be intended fimply to raife an oak wood, they may be made at the diftance of nine feet ; but if it be intended to raife a copfe, they fhould not be farther diftant from each other than fix feet. The making of the pits, for fowing a- corns, muft be regulated by the fame circumftances as to diftances, and the melioration of the foil, as mentioned above for general pitting. PITTING FOR SOWING FORESTS OF FIRS AN» LARCHES. The obfervations miade above, in refped to the diftance between the pits in general pitting, apply to the prefent head. Indeed, the whole that is there faid will apply in the prefent cafe, except- ing in refped to the depth of the pits. Both for general planting, and for fowing acorns, we have advifed to dig up feveral inches of the fubfoil, even although it may appear unfriendly to vege- tation ; and this was proper ; becaufe it wa.s plants that were to be introduced, and feeds of a very hardy kind, which required to be buried feveral inches under the furface, and whofe roots would confequently be imbedded in what good foil there might be. But, in the prefent cafe, we are to pit for very tender feeds, which require all the encouragement and care which it is in our power to give : Therefore, we cannot advife, in any 39^ FOREST PLANTATIONS. {May, any cafe, the making of the pits deeper than the natural foil, however little that may be. If the fward contain the whole good foil, it fhould be turned upon its green fide, and wrought by the hoe, or other means, for two years, if one is not fufficient to qualify it for the reception of the feeds. PITTING FOR SOWING TREE SEEDS IN GENERAL. Pitting for Walnuts and Chefnuts may be done as above advifed for acorns ; becaufe thefc feeds require to be buried to a good depth, and will do better in foil lefs meliorated than any of the fir tribes. Beech-maft, although it needs to be pret- ty deeply covered, requires to have the foil better made ; fuch as its tender feeds may pufli through with eafe. Elms are, in point of tendernefs, nearly allied to the Firs. The pits, for either the Oak or the Sycamore, fhould not have much crude earth mixed with them ; and the Birch and Alder fnould not have any. Without attending to thefe precautions, it will be diflicult, if not im- pofllble, to fucceed in raifmg forefts or mafTes of thefe kinds from feeds. GSNERAL MaT/."] GENERAL OBSERVATIONS, Scc. 397 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE STATE OF THE GROUNDS TO BE PITTED. It generally happens, that the grounds to be pitted are lefs or more covered with whins, broom, or other brufhwood ; and, when this is the cafe, it is fo far fortunate for the plantation. Shelter, that great promoter of the growth of trees, is anxioufly fought for by «very intelligent planter. Some planters, of little experience, and who feem neither to have thought nor read, have, in prac- tice, incautioufly cut up the whole brufhwood from their grounds before pitting. But a little refle6lion would have convinced them, that it was their intereft to take advantage of the fhelter al- ready provided by nature. In cafes where fuch brufliwood confifts of the Sloe-Thorn, or other too tall growing kinds, a greater portion of them may be taken away ; but, in ordinary cafes, only fo much as to allow the pits either for fowing or planting to be made, fhould be removed. In cafes where the Whins left appear to be too {len- der for (landing, without having their tops bent over upon the pits or young plants, they mud bs cut over at two or three feet high to prevent it, DRAINING INTENDED FORESTT* By whatever means it k propofed, either to prepare, or crop grounds with trees, draining is eflential 39* FOREST PLANTATIONS. [Moy. effentlal to their well-being. Generally fpeaking, open drains are fuperior to all others for foreft draining. A rubble drain, or one partially built, is liable to have its interflices fuddenly filled up with the roots of trees ; and, after fuch drains arc filled up, it is no eafy tafk to clear them. Leading or mafter drains, in the principal places, with con- ducing lateral drains formed by the fpade, and often fuch as may be formed by the plough fur- row, will anfwer perfeclly well. The very firll ftep neceffary to be taken in any preparation, is the formation of drains, wherever they appear to be necelTary. Pitting, and other works, follow with greater propriety than precede this work. THINNING OAK WOODS. We have formerly recommended, that th« Thinning out of Oak Woods, as well as the ge- neral thinning out of oaks over any part of the plantations, (hould be left undone till this time, for the fake of getting off the bark with the great- er facility. We have already, in January, given diredions for thinning forefts of various ages : Thefe will equally apply here j we fhall therefore refer the reader to them. eii£ANIN» MayJi CLEANING GROUND, &C. 399 CLEANING THE GROUND AMONG NEW PLANTED TREES. We have prevloufly pointed out, that cropping with vegetables among young ornamental planta- tions made after fallow, trenching or digging, is only intended to induce a more clofe attention to keeping them clean. Such plantations, then, as are to be kept with the hoe, will now require to be attended to. In the performance of this work, hoes of confiderable weight, and not broad in the mouth, will anfwer bell ; becaufe thereby the furfdce can be more efFedually ftirred or re- newed, than by ordinary garden hoes. Indeed, in land of a clayey or ftrong nature, hoes of the ab:jvf defcription are effential to the proper per- formance of th« work of hoeing. OAK 40O WOODS AND COPSES. [Miz^V. OAK WOODS AND COPSES. PLANTING EVERGREEN NURSES. In all cafes where Oakwoods or Copfes have been laid out by fowing in pits, and where Fir nurfes are to be planted, and have not hitherto been got accompliilied, the nurfes ought to be completed without delay, as advifed lafl month ; which fee. The feafon is now arrived for fingllng the fhoots on the Oak flools ; for thinning out Oak woods and Copfes j and for taking the bark off the tim- ber. SINGLING THE SHOOTS ON THE OAK STOOLS. The ftcols which were cut over two years ago, will by this tinu have produced a great number of fhoots. If thefe were left upon the (tools un- touched, they woula unneceffarily exhaufl: the flrength of the roots, in producing bruftiwood hardly May."] WOODS and copses. 40t hardly fit for the fire ; while, by a moderate de- gree of care, it may be turned to far more im- portant ends. The firft thing neceffary to be confidered, is the ftrength of the flool to be thinned j and, in proportion to this, to leave a greater or fmaller number of fhoots upon it. The number to be left may vary from one, to four or five. What- ever number are to be left, they ought to be the ftraighteft and mod promifing fhoots, and as e^ qualiy difpofed around the ftool as pofTible. The neceflity of retaining a fufficient number of fhoots will appear obvious to every one. If a number too fmall for conducing the whole flow of juices from the roots upwards be left, thefe juices will feek an outlet, by forming new Ihoots at the places from which their predecelTors were removed ; by which means, the evil fought to be prevented would be effeftually continued. On the other hand, if too great a number be left, they prevent the neceffary enlargement of the principals, and become themfelves ftunted, hide- bound, and dwarfifti. To guard againfl: running into either of thefe extremes, is the bufinefs of the forefter in the prefent cafe. Such of the young fhoots as it is neceffary to remove, fhould be flipped off by a wedge-fhaped chifel, furniflied with a handle three feet long* Pufliing them off by the chifel as above, is by far a better method than cutting them j becaufe, C c wherever 402 WOODS AND COPSES. £May> wherever they are cut off, the ftools produce a greater profusion of new fhoots, which both need- lefsly throws away the ftrength of the ftool, and robs thofe fhoots intended for the crop, of a part of their nouriihment. Having felefted the proper fhoots to remain on the ftools, and removed, by the chifel, all re- dundant ones, nothing further is neceflary to be done for them, till the proper feafon for pruning them arrives in autumn, when they muft be trim- med, as direfted for forefl plantations of their age and fize. Stools which have been thus treated two years ago, ihould now be cleared of all young growths which have fmce rifen up. Indeed, it were bet- ter, both for the ftools and wavers, that the fu- perfluous young growths were annually removed. Stools which have ftood ftill two years longer, and which have been treated as above directed, muft now be freed from fome of thofe faplings which were left at the firft thinning. In cafes whero five were left, two may be removed ; and thefe, of courfe, the worft. The three which are left fhould be chofen to ftand as equally dif- pofed around the ftool as poflible. Thofe which were left with four upon them, ftiould now be freed from two of the worft ; and the two left fliould be as nearly oppofite to each other on the ftool as poflible. After this thinning, the plants or Md^.^ WOODS AND COPSES. 403 or wavers left will require nothing more till the time of commencing the autumn pruning, when they mufl: be treated as direded for foreft plants of their height. If the propofed objed be a Copfe, httle more will be required, till the time for cutting it down arrive, which may happen about fifteen or twenty years after the laft felling took place. But its fitnefs for being cut at this age, will depend on the goodnefs of the foil, the climate, and the ma- nagement of the whole. CONVERTING A COPSE INTO AN OAK WOOD. If, however, it were advifable,. from local cii- cumftances, to rear an Oak wood from the ftools, which have been treated as above directed ; it would be necefl'ary to remove one third part of the whole stands by the twelfth year after cutting as above, which would thin them out to between feven and eight feet diftance, one with another. In all cafes where it is required to deprive a ftool of its leader, it muft be managed with the fame care and attention to its future growth, as has been al- ready advifed. The ftools fo deprived of their leaders mufl; be kept unincumbered by any brufh- wood, dead branches, or the like, in order that its young fhoots may proceed onward without in- terruption. C c a By 404 WOODS AND COPSES. l^aj/. By their twentieth year, another third part may be removed, which will allow the remaining (lands to be at the diftance of nine or ten feet apart ; and by their twenty-fifth year, perhaps, they may require to be thinned out to twenty or twenty-five feet diftance ; and, five years thence, the remain- ing ftands may require to be thinned out to thirty feet diftance : Which diftance will probably an- fwer till they arrive at their fortieth year, when they may be thinned out to about forty feet dif- tance from one another. The ftools produced by thefe intermediate thin- nings, and which have been managed as directed above, will by this time have produced a plenti- ful crop of young faplings for fupplying the places of fuch trees as it may be neceflary from time to time to remove : and thus, by a fimple method and moderate care, may copfes be converted not only into woods, but it may be faid into everlaft- ing woods. * TAKING * Although we look forward for a great length of time, during which the roots of the oak will supply nourishment to the saplings at intermediate cuttings, and produce these to good timber trees, the time will doubtless arrive when these, through age, will become rigid and incapable of performing their functions. Every tree with which we are yet acquainted has evidently its periods of infancy, youtli, maturity, decay and death. Mffj/.] TAKING DOWN OLD OAKS. 40^ TAKING DOWN OLD OAKS FROM SUCH WOODS AS THE ABOVE. In taking down old oak trees In fuch a planta- tion as the above, great care is to be had not to hurt the young wavers or underwood which are ■rifing up. The tops of fuch trees as are to be felled, fhould be much reduced in fize. immedi- ately before the felling take place, i^o that they jnay occupy lefs room in their fall. The height at which the trees Oiould be cut above the furface of the ground is four inches : if more flem be left, it is unneceffary ; and if lefs, the fubfequent growths cannot be managed with fo much eafe. The edges of the cut part left in the ground Ihould be fo pared or rounded by the adz as to turn the rain readily off; for if moif- ture were allowed to lodge upon the ftools, they would be ferioully injured by it. No part of the bark fhould on any account be peeled off the root, as fome greedy forefi-ers do, greatly to the detriment of the fucceeding crop. In taking down the trees, it is even proper to guard againfl their accidentally tearing off any of the bark from the roots. BARKING .406 WOODS AND COPSES. [^Ma?/. BARKING OAK WOOD. We fhall fuppofe that the forefler, with his befl inftruded men, are bufily engaged in the re- fpeftive works noticed in the preceding article, according to the circumftances of the age of the copfe or plantation ; and that he has procured a proper number of barkers, according to the extent of his undertaking. A piece of vacant ground, at a convenient fide of the wood, is to be looked out, to which the large and fmall wood is to be carried, here to undergo the operation of barking. The barkers are fumifhed with light fhort- handled mallets made of afh-wood, the head about eight inches long, three inches in diameter at the face, and the other end blunt, but fomewhat "wedge-fiiaped ; and with Iharp wedges, made of the fame fort of timber, fomewhat fpatula-fhaped: thefe, from their form, may either be drove by the mallet, or pufhed by the hand. The barkers are aifo provided with a fmooth whinftone, about fix or eight inches in diameter on the face, and four or five inches thick. The young faplings, fmall branches or twigs, are held by one hand on the flone, and with the ether beat by the mallet until the bark be fplit on the wood : it is then peeled off, and laid re- gularly afide, till a bundle of confiderable fize be formed. The Mai/.^ BARKING OAK WOOD. 407 The larger branches, young trees, and full grown timber trees, are laid along on the ground: the upper fide of the tree to be barked is beat with force by the mallet from one end of the tree to the other. The bark is then ftarted at the thick end, by thrufting or driving in the wedge ; which being thrufl along the whole length, the bark is fpeedily ripped open. The wedge is then applied under the bark at both fides of the incifion. The firm parts are then fucceffively beat by the mallet, and the wedge gradually pufhed along till the whole be completely fevered from the timber. The point moft particularly to be obferved in this art, is the taking oif the bark in as long Ihreds as poffible, for the conveniency of carriage to, and drying it on what are called' the liorses. Thefe are formed of long branches, and two or more pieces of about a yard in length, fharpened at one end, and having a knag; or fork at the other to receive and fupport the long branch. The horfes may ftand within four or fixo, feet of each other, and fo as to have a declivity from one end to the other, that the occafional rains may the more eafily run off. A dry elevated fpot, in an airy place, is tlie mod proper for e- redling the horfes upon, in order that the bark, when laid upon them, may have a free circula- tion of air whei; dryinc^. M 4.03 WOODS AND COPSES. [Af<77/. At the end of each day's work, the bark is carried to, and laid acrofs the horfes, to the thick- nefs of fix or eight inches. The large boardy pieces of bark are built into fmall pyramidal ftacks, or fet up on end leaning againft the horfes. If the weather be very dry and fine, the bark fhould be turned twice a day, or at leaft once a day. Gentle fhowers are found beneficial to it ; while fevere rains, of long continuance, are very hurtful. A careful hagma?i will take pains to lay the ftrong boardy pieces of the bark in fuch a manner as to defend the more tender parts from fevere rains. Great care is to be ufed to preferve the colour of the inner bark ; becaufe the colour of this is generally looked to as a principal cri- terion of its value. It is chiefly by the colour of the inner bark, and the aftringent effeds which it produces upon the palate when tafted, that the merchant or tanner judges of the value of the bark. If, therefore, by the viciffitudes of the weather, or the negle£l of the hagman, the bark be blemifiied even in colour, its value is very much diminifhed. When it is fufficicntly dry to be in no danger of fermentation, it fhould be carried to a dry houfe or (hade. Where fuch cannot be had, it fliould be flacked up in the fame manner as hay. It may be proper to notice here, that flacks of bark fhould not be fo large as to incur the rifk of M(iy'2 CROPPING VEGETABLES, &C. 409 of their fermenting. Narrow and long ftacks will anfwer beft. After being built up, they ihould be inftantly thatched, however promifing the weather may be. Straw, bog-reed, long heath or broom, may with equal propriety be the ma- terial employed as thatch. The only difference in barking the Birch, from the above method recommended for the Oak, confifts in peeling off and rejeding the outer ihreddy bark. The whole Bark of the Huntingdon and Bed- ford Willows, the Black Poplar, and the Spanifh Chefnut, is preferved as above recommended for the Oak. We have elfewhere noticed, that March and April are the proper months for barking £hefe. CROPPING WITH VEGETABLES AMONG NEW- SOWN WOODS AND COPSES. In all cafes where copfes have been fown after fummer fallow, and where it has been purpofed to fow green crops, as turnip, they fhould forth- with be put in. We have elfewhere noticed, that the yellow garden turnip is preferable to the com- mon field fort ; the Swedifh turnip is alfo a more fit plant to be cultivated here than the common forts. Savoys or late cabbages may alfo now be planted ; but, in cafe of putting in thefe, it would be 41 (? WOODS AND COPSES. ^Mai/. he proper not to exceed two rows between the two lines of patches : for if thefe were planted very near the rifmg trees, they would rob them fadly, and their blades would overftiadow them too much. PREPARING GROUND FOR FUTURE WOODS AND COPSES. This fubjeft has been pretty fully treated of in January, and alfo in the fubfequent month. However, we may here obferve, that in all cafes where it is propofed to rear oak copfes from feeds by pitting, the pitting (hould be performed at this time, with the view of the foil being more per- fedly prepared and meliorated. The manner and nature of pitting various foils, has been treated of under Forest Flantations for laft month j to which we beg leave to refer the reader. CLEANING COPSES OF CHIPS AND SMALL TWIGS. In all cafes, copfes and woods, young and old, fhould be rid of all twigs and fmall branches that may have been left or dropt. Young copfes cfpecially, which have been, or are now to be fown out with clover feed?, require that this work \t attended to, 50WIN'5 Maj/.^ SOWING OUT OF dOPSES, kc. 411 SOWING OUT OF COPSES, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS OLD, WITH CLOVER AND RYEGRASS SEEDS. This is now a proper feafon for fowing down copfes of this age with grafs feeds. It will be found the beft method to plough for this purpofe, leaving the furrow in the middle of the fpace be- tween the rows of copfes : Becaufe, in this way, the ground may be kept more pgrfetlly clear of furface water, than by any other method of pre- paration for the grafs feeds. Under this article for lafl month, it was noticed, that it is much better to fill the ground with clover, than to al- low it to be filled perhaps with much worfe kinds of herbage, which might be far more fcourging to the ground, as well as lefs ufeful to the owners. It may be proper to obferve here, that it will be dangerous to ufe the harrow for covering in the grafs feeds : that work mull therefore be per- formed by a rake pretty wide between the teeth. FEl^. 41 a FENCES. [3/^^. FENCES. PLANTING HEDGES. In every cafe where you have not yet got your evergreen hedges or fences finifhed in the plant- ing, it fiiould not be delayed by any means be- yond the firft of this month. Be attentive to em- brace damp weather for the performance of this work : Lifting and planting them in damp wea- ther, will both fecure the progrefs of their growth, and alfo prevent many of them from dying. In the event of the weather being dry, refort to puddling, as recommended in the Nursery for lail month ; and fee that you do not have more plants taken up of a morning than you can plant out the fame day ; and even thefe are to be care- fully covered with mats, if the weather be dry, for fear of overdrying, and thereby injuring their roots. buildins 3Iai/.2 BUILDING DYKES, &C. 3I3 BUILDING DYKES. Contiuue the building of ftone and lime fences; top dikes, Galloway dikes, and dryftone walls. Make funk fences, and build funk-fence walls. Be careful to ufe large ftones in building funk- fence walls ; and the more efpecially if the cast be deep. See that proper apertures be left at nu* merous places for the efcape of the moifture, which will infallibly exude from the earth on the back fide of the wall. For want of attending to thefe precautions, many roods of funk-fence wall are fometimes overturned foon after being built. In all cafes where there is occafion to make up the earth at the back of funk-fence walls, the wall at fuch places muft be made much ftronger than when they are merely employed in facing up the folld earth ; becaufe travelled earth, when it becomes nioift, fwells to a greater degree than folid earth, and therefore requires a very ftrong wall to with- ftand its force. CLEANING HEDGES. By this time the cleaning of hedges will have become a work of great importance. The keep- ing of hedges clean is the mod effeclual means to fecure their health, and to haften their maturity. AH 414 FENCES. {^May, All winter planted and dreffed hedges, which have not been cleaned out lafl: month, will now forth- with require to be cleaned. A week fpent in this work at this time, will be of more advantage to the hedges, than a whole month at the diftancc of a month afterwards. The grcateft error a hedger can be guilty of, in managing his hedges at this feafon, is to wait till they become over- run with weeds before he clean them. The Whin hedges which were fown in March, will now be making their appearance, and would be much the better for being hoed a little on each fide of the drill : The rifing plants will thereby be greatly encouraged, and the weeds, which might otherwife overtop them, will be removed. They may, however, flill require another dreffing dur- ing the fummer, efpecially if the land abound in thirties, particularly the welter and way thiftles : Thefe fhould be frequently removed in the firft feafon after fovving ; but fuch hedges rarely re- quire any further attention, in the way of clean- ing, in after feafons. TUNE, JUNE. Jwie.'} THE NURSERY. 417 ^une* NURSERY. HOEING DOWN WEEDS. Under this article for lafl month, we advifed early attention to this work. Nothing, we beg leave to repeat, conduces more to the health and progrefs of the young plants, than an earlv atten- tion to hoeing, whether the land be weedy or not. WEEDING BEDS OF FIRS, &C. Lafl month, under this article, we noticed the iieceflity of picking out the weeds from the beds of the late fown firs and larches. ihis work fhould be continued with great care. As foon D d aj 41 3 THE NURSERY. l_JuiiC. ns the weeds h;ive fliown themfelves, they flioukl be picked out. The work of weeding and watch- ing the birds may go on together. The fame at- tention to weeding all forts of briefing tree feeds is required. Indeed, univerfal cleanlinefs, in this refpecl, all over the nurfery, is required ; and any nurferyman who wifhes himfclf to be efteemed in his profefTion, although he were indifferent to the fate of his plants, will ftudy to have his nurfery in good order, as far as weeds are concerned, WATCHING BIRDS. The utmofl vigilance is required at this crifis : it is a lofs at any time when birds pick up feeds that are fown : But the lofs is much greater when they are allowed to deflroy thofe vegetating feeds or embryo plants which firlt appear above ground. Thefe will always be found to have been the befl and mod perfe£l feeds ; and confequently the mofl: choice plants are destroyed when birds are fuffered to pick them up. What is here faid re- fpedls not only firs and larches, but is alike ap- plicable to all the other kinds of which the birds are fond. Hence the neceffity of a conftant and uninterrupted attention in this refpe<^. RILISV- June."] VEGETATING SEEDS. 419 RELIEVING VEGETATING SEEDS. As noticed laft month, this operation is fome- times required. When it is fo, it is always a great misfortune to the young plants. However carefully it be performed, it will prove the de- ftruclion of many of the young trees. It ihould therefore be reforted to only in cafes of great urgency. WATERING VEGETATING SEEDS. Very often, at this feafon, fevere droughts fet in, which are very prejudicial to biiering firs and other fmall feeds. But although drought is a very great diftrefs, watering feldom or never is of much benefit ; the drought of the following day generally leaving the ground in a worfe ftate af- ter the watering than it was in before. Indeed, unlets the watered ground can be fhaded from the powerful rays of the fun through the day, and from the probably frofty winds of the night, "watering had much better be omitted. In fandy foils, which are not apt to batter, watering is of moft ufe to the vegetating plants. D d « GATHER* 420 THE NURSEX-r. ^JwiC, GATHERING ELM SEED FOR IMMEDIATE SOWING. By the fecond week of this month elm feed tvill be ready to be gathered for immediate fow- iiig. That which is of a good quality is eafily know'n, by the feed being hard and firm in the middle of the capfule. It is mifpent time to ga- ther fuch feeds as are otherwife. Elm-feed, when newly gathered, efpecially at this feafon, and kept together in a large quantity, has, on account of the juicy nature of its capfule, a great tendency to heat. It will therefore be proper to gather no more on one day than can be fown on the following morning ; and it will even be right to fpread the feeds thin during the night. The neceffity of this precaution generally fhows itfelf : for, before they can be brought home in the evening of the day on which they are gather- ed, if there be a bulliel or two in the fack, they will be found very hot. We have often obferved them fo much fo, thnt if they had lain in that ftate till the morniiig, many of them would never have vegetated. SOWING NEW GATHERED ELM-3EED. The fame quality of foil as recommended fot fowingElms, in March and April, is required for the June.'] GATHERING elm seeds, Sec. . 4ii the feed to be now fown. The diredlons tliere given in refped: to the manner of fowing, thick- nefs of covering, kc. being equally applicable to the prefent, we beg leave to refer the reader to thofe months (page 284 4- seg.) for further in- formation. Gatliering Elm Seeds to dry for Autumn or Spring Soiiing. By the lafl: week of this month the Ehn feeds will be completely ripened, and confequently in a proper frate for being gathered for drying to keep for future fowing. It is dangerous to delay the gathering of the Elm feed even for a day after it is ripe ; becaufe it is very liable to be wholly blown olF by the firft flight gale. In gathering Elm feed, it fhould be chofea from the talleft and mofl handfome and healthy trees. Indeed, in every cafe feeds fhould be col- lefted from the moft promifmg and healthy trees of their kind. Plants, like animals, in fome mea- fure convey to their progeny their appearance and habits, whether good Or bad. Therefore, though a tree have an abundance of apparently perfect feeds, if it be eiiher vifibly difealed, or be an ill formed plant, not a feed fhould be coliecled from it. It is well known that difeafe and de- fermity in plants frequently does not prevent them from 424 THE NURSERY. [Jw?2 COPIES. [Jwte^ WOODS AND COPSES. Continue the barking of Oak wood, as point. ed out lafl month. See that the bark be well dried, and properly flacked up and thatched. Such copfes as were fown in pits among grafs lands are now to be carefully weeded, as directed hi' fuch in Forest J?lantations for this month 5 which fee. Fields of patches which were fown either with «Korns or other tree feeds, are now to be careful- ly weeded and hoed, as circumftances will admit. Great care is neceffary, cfpecially in regard to fmall feeds, as thofe of Birch. And fuch of thefe as are cropped with vegetables, muil be carefully weeded and hoed. Nothing, we repeat, is of more importance to all forts of crops, than early cleaning. Thofe which had their patches thinned out in the laft, or preceding fpring months, will be great- ly bettered by being hoed between the remaining plants, not merely to deflroy the weeds, but to loofen and renew ths furface. It has elfewherc beeia \JU/Je.'] WOODS AND COPSES. 4I9 been fald, that fuch operations enrich the foil. Probably tlie land may have acquireii a very hard and folid confillency ; in which cafe, hoes made with three claws to ilrike into the eaith, will be •found cf great ufe. Such are not only more ef- fediial in turning over the furface, bat are iiiore eafily worked than the common fort. Continue preparations for future oak woods and copfes, by pitting on unequal grounds and in grafs lands, Diredions for regulating this work have before been given under Forest Plantations for lait month j to which we refer the reader (P- 393-) The vi^ork of preparing for the fowing of woods by paring and burning, and by fallow, Ihould now be carried on, as recommended in laft month under Forest Flanfatwns (p, 384.) FEN CSS 43© FENCE?. [^.fune. FENCES. The whole of the hedges which were either new planted or cut down, or planted laft winter and fpring, are now to be examined and cleaned. It was noticed formerly, that a day fpent in de- ftroying weeds in their infancy prevents much after labour : Befides, the ftirring of the ground, in killing the weeds, greatly promotes the health and growth of the young hedge plants, and en- courages thofe which were cut down to pufh forth numerous and vigorous fhoots. We need hardly repeat, that this is a proper time for carrying forward the building of fences with mortar. It may be right to hint, however, that in all cafes where dryflone or Galloway dikes are intended to be built, the (tones fhould be pro- cured and laid down while the roads are in a good flate. . JULY. JULY, Juh).'] THE NURSERY, 433 5ttl^ - THE NURSERY. TIME FOR DISCONTINUING WATCHING BIRDS. 1 HE whole of the new-fown beds and drills of fpring-fown feeds will, by this time, have made their appearance ; and the Firs and Larches will have difburthened their tops of the hulk of the feeds which they pufhed above ground when ger- minating. The watching, to prevent their de^ ftrudion by birds, will therefore be no longer ne- ceffary. CLEANING NURSERY GROUND?. Attend, with care, to keep your Nurfery ground in every place clean of weeds. If it be for a week E e or 434 THE NURSERY. \JuJjJ. or tv/0 neglected at this feafon, the annual poa grafs, groundlcl, chickv/eed, or the like, will get to a feed-bearing ftate, (hake their feeds, and fo lay a foundation for much future labour. In the operation of cleaning Nurfery ground, raking among tranfplanted trees, and in the alleys of feed-beds, &c. fhould be as little praftifed as poflibie. Raking increafes the finenefs of the mould, and, in proportion, the number of the weeds. It is a better plan to hoe and gather off . the weeds by the hand j and thus the rot-heap will contain fewer fmall flones, and the Nurfery will be more eafily kept clean than if otherwife managed, MANAGEMENT Of WEEDS. It is very wrong to lay down Weeds in heaps in the Nurfery. If large Weeds be pulled and laid down, having the feeds formed, they vvill ripen, although not '[o perfedlly as if the plants had (lood in their natural fpot, yet fufficiently to grow ; and they will ripen much fafler too, than if they had been unmoved. We would recommend, that the vegetable mould, fo procured, fliould not be ufed in ma- nuring.; Nurfery ground, efpecially when it is in- tended to fow feeds ; becaufif, however carefully or completely the weeds in the rot-heap have been -overcd, a confidcrable number of the feeds will remain Jull/.l MANAGEMENT OF WEEDS. 435 remain unhurt by the fermentation ; and would, IlI length, very much tend to increafe the number of weeds among the young trees; but fuch mould may be ufed with propriety in the plantations, for raifing a crop of turnip, or the like. It is therefore abfolutely neceflary to carry off all weeds inilantly after being pulled, to fome fc- queftered fpot contiguous to the Nurfery ground, where they are to be laid up in a proper ridge for rotting. When the new pulled weeds are laid up- on the ridge, they are to be immediately covered with a portion of thofe mod reduced, to prevent the feeds from being blown abroad by the wind. PRUNING PLANTS IN THE LINES. Although the firll of this month would be too early to commence the Pruning of large trees, it will now be proper to go over the young plants in the hnes, and to pinch off any fnoot that feems to contend with the main leader of the tree. This will be found ufeful, efpecially to trees planted lafr fpring. Larches, and firs of this age which have two leaders, Ihould have the weakefl pinched off. This method of pruning will anfwer for fuch ages aS are above noticed : But fuch as have been two years in tlie lines will require the knife. Cut the competing fhoots clofe by the bolej being careful to leave the plant regularly clothed with E e ?. fmall 436 THE NURSERY. {Jllly, fmall twigs. Plants, fo pruned at this feafon, have their wounds healed over before the time for re- moving them arrive ; and fo are far more proper for being, fent to the plantation, than if they had undergone this operation at Martinmas. Larches, in Nurfery lines, fhould never have the knife applied to them, excepting in cafes where two or more contending tops appear ; and, even then, it will generally anfwer better to pinch off the top, or tops, of the weakeft with the finger and thumb. The fame may be faid of all the kinds of fir ; but, indeed, thefe feldom, when they are of good quality, produce two leaders. Some of the larger plants of Evergreens, irt a train of preparation in the Nurfery for fingle ornamental plants, fuch as Holly, Yew, Box, or Laurel, may require a little pruning. This, however, muft only confill in shortening in any over-luxuriant or runoxmy branch. Unlefs in the cafe of forming them for trees, they fiiould feldom, perhaps never, have a branch taken off by the bole. But, if they are intended for tall trees, they muff be individually managed, as re- commended for Forest trees deftined for the fame purpofe. The pruning of Evergreens fliould not be left undone beyond this monlh, or the begin- Ring of Auguft. ORNA- i/%.3 ORNAMENTAL PLANTATION. 43^ ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. MANAGEMENT 0? GREEN CROPS, &C. Attend to the crops of vegetables, fown or planted among the young plantations. Be care- ful to keep them clean of weeds ;— earth up po- tatoes with the hoe, and fmgle out late turnips. No crop requires more that the land Ihould be ftirred about them in their infancy than turnips. Expert growers of thefe do not wait till the ground becomes weedy before they hoe ; but continue to work among them from the time they are in the rough leaf, till they have grown to cover the ^vhole ground. lifting evergreens. By the end of this month, you may venture to lift Evergreen trees and Ihrubs, to fill up any va- cancies in the Park, Lawn, or Shrubberies. Al- low us, however, again to inculcate the propriety, or even necefiity, of choofing damp or rainy wea- ther for this operation ; and of taking care that the 43^ ORNAMENTAL PLANTATION. {Julij. the plants be removed with as large balls of earth as poffible. If drought fuddenly follow after the removal of Evergreens, they mufl be watered a- round their roots ; and the water fhould not be fupplied in a fparing manner, but fuch a quantity fliould be given as will fink down to their under- mofl roots. PRUNING. By the end of this month may be commenced the fummer pruning of ornamental plantations and trees. We have often recommended cautious pruning. This is efpecially ncceflary on the ex- terior parts of plantations. Here, variety and c- legance mufl, as much as poffible, be preferved ; while the' interior of ornamental plantations may be managed like ordinary foreil plantation. In pruning larches or firs at this feafon, or, indeed, at any feafon, great care mufi; be taken not to re- move too many branches at once. A fiuglc tier, or at mod two tiers in a feafon, are as much as fliould be taken away at once. In all cafes, larch and fir branches fhould be cut in to the quick. In- deed, unlefs in the cafe of fingle ornamental trees, or fuch as have been neglefted to be pruned in due time, cutting by the bole is efiential, both to the health of the plant, and to the future procur- ing of good found timber. When a large branch, which Jldj/,2 PRUNING. 4j^ which perhaps bears a confiderable proportion to the whole top of the tree is to be removed, it is wrong to attempt to remove it altogether in one feafon. Let it be fnortened at this time at a living lateral, and let the remainder be taken away the next feafon, or let another part of it be then Ihortened off, and the final removal be protra£led till H third feafon, as eircumftances may direcl. Let here, however, obferve, that the alternate pruniDg muft be clofe by the bole. Timber is not fo much the obje<^: here \ — if it were, the a- bovc circumftance of lopping off fo large a branch would for ever be a blemifn. We would never wiih to fee a branch thicker than a perfon*s wrill required to be removed from any tree whatfo- cvcr ; and good management will always procure us that pleafure. But, alas, how little of that kind of management is to be feen ! — Not one of a thoufand pays any attention to the pruning of his plantations and trees, till they are almofl: paft redemption ; — at any rate, till it is impoili- ble to make good clean wood, and not unfre- quently difficult to leave health?/ plants, on ac- count of the size and number of the branches necelfary to be taken off. For further directions for the work of pruning, we refer the reader to Januarij, ('pp.146 — 154)- PF.E- 1^40 Ornamental plantation. {Jiiti/. Preparation of grounds for future plantations. Continue the preparation of grounds for future iPlantations, as recommended in laft month. On- ly, in cafes where it is doubtful if the fward will be rotted previous to the planting time, fee that it be difcardcd or thrown afide, as direfted for Forest Flantations^ article Pitting, for May.. (p. 389O thinning ornamental plantations. This work will be properly continued at this feafon. In all cafes, plants may be remov- ed, whofe bark is not to be ufed for tan. But fuch as are to be employed in this way, ought to be let ftand till the proper feafon far barking them arrives. See Forest Flajitations for March ;— » Mixed Copses, and Oak Woods for May, FOREST Jw/j/.] FOREST PLANTATIONS. 44t FOREST PLANTATIONS. The whole works for preparing for Foreft Plantations, recommended in May^ may (till be carried on. Continue the care of new fown pits of feeds, as directed laft month j which fee. PRUNING. !By the end of the month, commence the prun- ing of plantations of two years ftanding. All com- Jjeting branches are to be fhortened or removed, as circumflances may direft. Be careful to cut all branches clofe by the bole. In narrow ftripes, or fmall plantations, the fide- branches of trees acquire a greater degree of ftrength than in more extenfive plantations ; and on the fkirts and outfides of all plantations much more than in the interior : Hence a greater propor- tion of attention to the pruning of thefe is required. It will generally be neceflary to fhorten in fuch as appear to take too ftrong a form : In fhortening fuch, J^4^; I0RE5T PLANTATION. [Julj/* fuch, It Is requlfitc carefully to feek back for a thriving lateral. If fuch cannot be got near the bole of the plant, It will anfwer preity well to take the prcfent and preceding year's growths away ; — thereby the flow of the juices will b2 checked, and confequcntly the increafc of the bough. The branches, fo fhortencd In, may be allowed to re- main, till it fall to their lot, in the progrefs of pruning, to be removed. Larches, fituated In narrowftrlpes, and on the out- fides of timber plantations, fliould be deprived of the loweft tier of their branches when they are eight feet high ; and, every year after, a tier of branches ought to be removed. In the interior of plantations, and efpecially of very large plantations which have been thick planted, and which have thriven well, the undermoll tiers of larch trees will be fo weak- ened, that perhaps two or three tiers may be taken off at once, without any injury to the plants. The fame may be faid of all the firs : Yet none of tl>c branches, fo to be removed, ought to remaia on the tree till they have ceafed to grow. Both the iarch and fir branches fhould be cut off while they are alive. If dead branches remain for a year or two upon any tree, and afterwards be cut off, the blemifties in the wood, when it comes to be ufed, will be fenfibly greater than if ihey had been removed in time : An4 if a dead branch be allowed for a number of years, efpecially upon the Jtt/y. *! HINNINC PLAMTATIONS. 44^ the firs, it will form wliat is known by the name of a Cork Knot. THINNING PLANTATION'S. The Thinning of young Plantations may now be carried on with much propriety ; becaufe the fide-fhoots of fuch as are left will be better ripcn-r ed, and fo be more flrengthened to endure the feverity of winter. The above fubjecls have been largely treated of in January ; to which \\z beg leave to refer the reader. woor>s ^^ WOODS AND COPSES. Juf^, WOODS AND COPSES. Continue due attention to the keeping of the trees of laft fpring-fowing clean of weeds. Thofe, alfo, of a year or two longer (landing, muft be relieved from encumbering weeds. See that the crops of vegetables among the young Copfes be clean of weeds ; and that none of the vegetables be overf had owing the young trees. The pruning of young Copfes of two or three years {landing may now be begun. The ma- nagement for thefe is the fame as for Foreft trees pf the fame age. The preparation of land for future Copfes, as advifed in the preceding month, may flill be con» tinned. FENCES, i^ukh^ -^eKces* 44^ t'ENCES. MANAGEMENT OF EVERGREEN SCREEN HEDCEii Such Evergreen Screen Hedges as are allowed to grow more negligently, fhould now be diibur^ thened of their fuperfluous fide fhoots. In per^ forming this operation, it is necellary to cut, fo as to have the amputated part covered among the leaves from the range of the eye. Hedges of Holly, kept in the above loofe manner, have a far more rural appearance than when drelTed with the (hears : Befides, they will produce a profufioa of berries to attrad fong-birds, and to pleafe the eye by their beautiful variegated appearance dur» ing winter ; while fuch as are dreifed with th« fliears exhibit a formal Ihape, and unvaried greei> furface, in the cheerlefs feafon of the year. Screen Hedges of Laurel fhould be treated as above advifed for Screen Hedges of Holly* The Laurel is unfit for any fituation requiring the (hears. 44$ FENCES. Zyfull/. MANAGEMENT OF FENCE AND DIVISION HEDGES. Holly Hedges, which are planted either for DI- ^ifion Hedges or Fences, together with Yew and Privet Dlvifion Hedges, are now to be dreffed by the fliears or the Twitching bill. The wedge form is the bell for all fuch hedges. Square-topt hedges generally become bare at bottom for want of air ; while thofe of the above form will continue green, from the bottom upwards, ever fo long. Divifion Hedges of the Tree-box are by far prettieft, when kept as above recommended for the Fir, Holly, and Laurel Screen Hedges. The height of thefe hedges must be reguhled by the purpofes to which they are applied* TLANTING EVERGREEN HEDGES. The end of this month is a good time for plant- ing out liedges of the above kinds. In all cafes, when lifting fuch Evergreen plants at this feafon, the ground fliould be well prepared, and rich. CLEANING HEDGES. U'he work of Cleaning young Hedges is flill to be attended to. Very generally, by this time of the fcafon, old hedg':;:s become befet with thiftles, docks^ Jull/.ii CLEANING HEDGES. 447 docks, hemlock, and ether large weeds. When, fuch are allowed to remain, they not only rot the hedge, but render It bare and naked at the places where they grow. They muft therefore be care- fully removed at this time ; and the hedges will continue, in this refped, comparatively clean dur- ing the feafon. MAKING FENCES. Sunk Fences, Sunk-Fence Walls, together with walls of all forts, are iliil to be carried on. Turf walls and top dikes may alfo be conflrudled. It may be proper again to notice, that top dikes fliould not be erected till a year after the earth has been thrown from the ditches, and had time to get compa6led ; otherwife the ground will be apt to fmk unequally, and thus occafion the downfal of the dike. AUGUST. AUGUST. Ff Aug,'} THE NURSERY, 45; :^ttgttst* THE NURSERY. CLEANING. C^ONTINUE, with earneft care, to keep the Nur- fery ground, in every place, clean of weeds ; carrying them off to the rot-heap, as directed lafl; month. PRUNING. Go on with the Pruning of young trees in the Nurfery lines; never forgetting to cut the branch- es clofe by the bole. LAYING EVERGREENS^ By the end of this month, it is proper to lift and lay all kinds of Evergreens, if the weather F f 2 be 452 "^nE NURS:££iY. [_Au^. be moid ; otherwife, it may be deferred till rain or damp weather come. The method of laying has been treated of in February, which fee, (page 232.) It has been advifed in April (page 338) nor to fake up more Firs or Evergreen trees from the feed-bed than can be planted the fame day. This precaution is ftill more necelfary now, than at that feafon. Be careful not to (hake the plants when they are lifted ; as, the more of the natural foil they have along with them from the feed-bed, the better will they thrive in the places where they are planted out. Two-year feedling Hollies may now be planted out in beds, as advifed in Apiil. Be cautious, in lifting them, not to break a fibre of their roots ; ?,nd let thefe be as fhort time expofed to the air aS poffible. Be careful, likewife, not to fhake the earth from their roots ; but h?.ve them laid with as much of the feed-bed foil adhering to them as pofTible. All Evergreens which have been raifed by cut- tings, as Eaurels, Yews, Privets, and the like, fliould now be lifted and replanted, as directed in April, Such of thefe as have been raifed from feeds, fhould be treated as above advifed for feed- ling Hollies. EVERGREEN' /i«g'.] THE NURSERY. 4-'^ EVERGREEN CUTTINGS. The end of this month is a proper time for making cuttings of Laurels, Yews, Privets, and fimilar plants. The beft cuttings are the prefent year's ihoots, with about an inch of the lafl: year's wood adhering to them. The leaves fliould be carefully cut off by the knife to within three inch- es of their tops. The cuttings fhould be nine inches long, and fliould be laid in to within three inches of their tops, and placed perpendicularly. The foil mod proper for them is fuch as is light, very rich, and a little moid, but not wet : the bed fituation is on a ihady border, which receives the morning fun only. The land will be much the better for being well manured, and for hav- ing been under a crop of turnip or the like the preceding fummer. It fliould alfo have been dug and kept clean during fummer till now. GRUBS. By this time of the fta^on, it not unfrequently happens, that the one year Larch, as well as other forts of one-yeir feediing trees, are fadiy infefted with ciituvrms or grubs. Their preftnce will be known, by numbers of the young plants being cut qver 454 "^^^ NURSERY. C^^to* over at the furface, and falling down. In every fpot where plants are thus cut over, the ground is to be examined for a little way round about, and perhaps half an inch deep, where the deftroyers will generally be found. They (hould be gathered up into a tankard, and given to the ducks, who will gobble them up greedily. Unlefs great at- tention be paid to this matter, many thoufands of young trees may be loll. ORNA. Aug,'] ORJTAMENtAL PLANTAtlOKS, 455 ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. This is a period of the feafon when weeds get very rapidly into a feed-bearing ftate. It will therefore be ufeful to examine all ornamental plant- ations, both thofe which have, and thofc which have not, been cropped with green crops. Pull and carry off all feeding weeds. This labour will be richly rewarded, by diminifhing the num- ber of weeds in the fucceeding feafons. Continue the pruning of plantations, an4 of fmgle trees, wherever neceffary. Go on with the planting out of all Evergreens; as Holly, Laurel, Lauruftinus, Arbutus, Rhodo- dendron, and the like. See that thefe be lifted with care, and have proper foils to fet them a» going, Wherever there is occafion to plant Firs in pits or in fallow ground, it may now be done. Be careful to plant in damp weather j and fee that no earth be fhaken from their roots. Continue the preparation of grounds for future plantations, as advifed in the preceding months. 456 FOREST PLANTATIONS. [^W^^ FOREST PLANTATIONS. Continue the preparing of grounds for future plantations, according to circumftances, as di- reded in the preceding months ; which fee, planting firs. In fuch plantations as have been prepared by pitting or fallow, and in which it is intended to plant Firs, the work of planting may now go on. Be careful to choofe damp or rainy weather in which to perform this operation ; and fee that no more plants be taken up in a morning than can be planted on the fame day. The profped: of fuccess depends much, at any time, on the frefli, undried flate oi the roots of the plants ; but more efpecially at this warm feafon. In cafes, there^ fore, where the plants mud be brought from a gr<;at ti'iftancc, it is wrong to attempt lifting them at aii at this feafon ; for, although the plants will do well if planted immediately from the Nurfery, they are liable to many injuries from delay and long xiug,^ lOREST PLANTATIONS. 45^ long carriage, and feldom fucceed when expofed to thofc difadvantages. We would carefully guard our readers againil-. attempting, at this feafon, the planting out of Fir? in grafs land, either by the T method, or by the triangular dibble. We have known fome eager and hurried planters greatly difappointed in the attempt. Such work fliould always be left tiil the latter end of March or firll of April. Indeed^ every attempt to plant by fuch means, at this fea- fon of the year, muft fail ; becaufe there is not fufficient length of time before winter for the roots to ftrike into the hard, unmeliorated fides of the flit ; neither do the roots of the grafs pafs from the one fide of the cut to the other, in fufficient numbers to keep it from opening ; confequently, the firll fevere frofl: generally turns out the plant. PRUNING AND THINNING, Continue the pruning of all plantations, as di- refted in the preceding months. It is now a pro- per fegfon for commencing the pruning of Gean trees in the forefl. See Febriia?y and Januarij under this, article. The thinning of young plant- ations of all kinds may now go on. RSLIEV- 4^8 yOREST PLANTATIONS, - [-4w^, RELIEVING LAST SPRING PLANTED TREES. At this feafon, all the fpring planted trees in f very part of the foreft are to be examined. Ma- tiy of them v^ill be found very much overridden ^y brambles, whins, or coarfe graffes. Thefe are, therefore, carefully to be cut over, by a well fharp- f ned fpade, all around the infide of the pit. It is |iot requifite, in this cafe, to lift the weeds or liaulm off the pit ; only, in cafe of the young tree being bent over, it mufl be relieved ; other* \^ife, the haulm may lye upon the pit around the tr^e, 3pring-fown Oaks will hardly require any fittention at this time ; hov/ever, as you go through to relieve the nurfes, any oak pit which has been H^gle6ted may alfo be relieved as above advifed fpr the others. WOODS Aug.'] WOODS AND COPSES. , 45^ WOODS AND COPSES. The fame operations which were recommend- ed laft month, are, in all their branches, to be continued in this. It is now time to begin the pruning of young faplings and wavers on the ftools in Copfes, The manner of pruning thefe is the fame as for Foreft plantations of equal fizes and ages. The prin- cipal point, in the prefent cafe, will be the re- ducing all Ihoots which compete with the lead- er, to due fubje£lion, and leaving the item of the leader clothed with fmall twigs. Mixed Copfes, which were fown lafl fpring, together with thofe which are one year older, fhould be carefully examined, and cleaned of weeds, hoeing as near the patches as poffible. Care mufl be taken that none of the crops which are fown or planted among them be encroaching To as to injure the young trees. FENCES. 4»0 FENCES. C*'^^*' FENCES, All young hedges, togetlier with thof? which were cut and plafhed laft winter, rnuft be cleaned of weeds this month. By bemg cleaned at this feafon, they will be left in a proper flale for the winter dreffing. Continue the drefllng of evergreea hedges, as advifed laft month. Switch and clip thorn and other deciduous hedge*. Under this article for lali month, when fpeaking of evergreen hedges, it was noticed, that fquare-toppf d hedges are always neceirarily bare at bottom. Let thorn and other deciduous hedges, therefore, be gradually moulded into the wedge iliape, tapering from bottom to top on both fides equally, till they meet in a point at the top. Two feet at bottom is a fufficient breadth for a five feet hedge: a gre.UNING ORNAMENTAL TREES. 471 a fparing hand, efpecially Ornamental trees in the park or the lawn. It Hiould be kept in mind, that here the principal objeft is not timber, but beauty j and nothing can be farther removed from this, than various forts of trees forced into the fame general outline by mere dint of pruning. Indeed, every ornamental tree fhould appear as if formed by nature : the mark of a tool fliouid ne- ver, if poffible, be feen upon it. The Afli fliouid be allowed to exprefs his owa natural (lability, by his Tufcan trunk, fupporting his lofty and far-extended limbs j a wing of which might probably cover a fmall group of Hazel, en- twined with Bramble. The Oak, the king of trees, fnould be guided to the greateft poffible height, that, in the majelly of his ftature, he may look down on his lefs im- portant neighbours ; perhaps covering in his fliade a group of common Hawthorn or Holly. The Sycamore and the Lime fhould exprefs their natures by the multiplicity of their fociable branches and leaves, fupported by their malTy trunks, in their quiet retreat near the gentle mur- mur of the rivulet, whofe waters fcarcely cover the pebbles among which they creep along ; al- lowing to be heard the grateful hummings of the laborious bees, offered up while they fip the ho- ney from the rich flowers of thefe trees ; while ihe bleating (heep and lowing cattle, beneath, ex- preis 47* ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. [^SepL prefs their gratitude for the flielter afforded from the fummer fun. The Larch and the Silver Fir fliould each be clothed with laterals from top to bottom. Not one of thefe fhould ever feel the knife. RECLAIMING NEGLECTED HEDGE-E.OW TREES. Hedge-row trees which have been negle£led or ill treated, may be reclaimed in a great mea- fure after a few years necelTary attention to re- duce the plants into form by degrees. Trees, however, of this defcription are often found fo bent, fquab, and bufhy, if much expofed, that it would be next to impoffible to fhape them for tall timber. As to thefe, if, in kind, they come under the defcription of Ship Timber, it is obvious what courfe to take in order to tGrn them to profit ; they ought immediately to be cut down. Others, which are found inclining up- wards, although in diforder in refpedt of pruning, in time may be induced to fhoot tall and ftraight. It has been obferved, that Hedge-row trees fliould be of fome confiderable len priety of suddenly exposing trees, which had been accus- tomed to shelter, to a very free circulation of air. About thirty-five years ago, a gentleman who had ac- quired a small fortune by honourable trade, bought an e- state of about a hundred and thirty acres of ground ; on a part of which, next to the mansion-house, there stood a park of mixed trees, of about five or six acres. Many of the trees were two feet in diameter. It was thought advisable to take out the trees in the interior, in order to plough the ground, and to leave two or three rows of the trees, on the skirts all around, to make a sheltered field : this was ac- cordingly done. About eighteen years ago, when plant- ing some grounds on the same estate, we found these rows so left with hardly a single tree remaining alive, and some of the poor trees literally without the skin! While, on the opposite side of the house, in the same quality of soil, trees were standing single, growing, and vigorously growing, at GO or 70 feet high : These last, however, had stood single from tlieir infancy. ^.8o FOREST PLANTATIONS, L'^^P^* and, in two or three years after, it fiiould be gone over again ; and fo on, till it be fufficiently thin- ned. It will be proper to commence the thinnings as above, at the interior of the plantation, leaving the flvirts thicker till the laft. Indeed, the thin- ning of the Ikirts of fuch a plantation fhould be protra^ed for a great length of time. PRUNING SUCH PLANTATION. Ifthethinnedplantatlonunderviewconfiftof Firs or Larches, all the rotten flumps, decayed branch- es and the like, mud be cut off clofe by the bole. It will be needful, however, to be cautious not to inflift too many wounds upon the tree in one fea- fon ; — the removing of thefe, therefore, ftiould be the work of two, even in fome cafes three years, rather than endanger the health of the planta- tion. After the removal of thefe from the boles of the firs and larches, proceed every two or three years, but with a fparing hand, to difplace one, or per- haps two tiers of the lowermoft live branches, as circumftances may diredt; being careful to cut clofe by the trunk, as above noticed. In a plantation of hard wood, under the above circumftances, the trees left for the ultimate crop are not to be pruned fo much at firft as might otherwife be required : Only one or two of their competing branches are to be taken away ; and even Sejpt.'] RECLAIMING PLANTATIONS, &C. 48 1 even thefe with caution. If it be judged too much for the firft operation to remove them entirely, they may be Ihortened, to prevent the progrels of the competition ; and the remaining partvS may be removed in the following feafon ; at which time, as often obferved, they mud be cut clofe by the bole. RECLAIMING NEGLECTED PLANTATIONS FROM TWENTY TO FORTY YEARS OF AGE. Plantations of the above age, which have never been thiimed, and which have grown well, and are now become thickets, may ftili be reclaimed, although not without confiderable ditHculty. In this cafe, the trees will be very tall and flender, and mufl be expofed to a freer air than they have lately enjoyed, with the utmoit caution; nor will it be poffible to reduce the plantaiion into proper order at the firil, or perhaps a fecond thinning. In the prefent cafe, it is probable that many of the trees have gained an afcendancy over the red. Thefe, unlefs they are of bad kinds, ihould be re- garded as trees w^hich, with the grtateft pTobabili- ty of fuccefs, may be trained into proper lorm. For, fuch as have been overtopped in a pertecl thicket for years, will be rendered fo feeble, and liave fo fev/ fide-branches, that they would neither be able to fupport their own wtigh:, were they H h Ic^ 4S2 FOREST PLANTATIONS. J[_Sept, left fingle ; nor would it be polTible to reduce them into proper fhape, Thefirfl. operation neceflary in the prefent cafe, Is to go over the whole plantation or foreft, and mark, by a daub of white paint, or fome fuch contrivance, the trees intended as the principals, or future crop. After having determined on thefe, cut out fuch a number of the others as -the cir- cumftances of the cafe will admit ; being careful rather to thin too little than too much : Such as are removed fhould be cut a few inches below the furface : Return and prune the principals, but with a very fparing hand ;' lopping off as few branches by the bole as pofTible for the prefent : Shorten t'le competing branches down to a frefli lateral, being careful not to reduce the top too much; nor, indeed, any farther for this time, than to give the leader the afcendancy. The fecond or third feafon following, it will be proper to go over the plantation again ; thinning out a further part of fuch as were left as tempo- raries, and pruning the principals farther into fhape; being careful to remove as many of the part- Iv amputated, contending leaders, clofe by the item, as the cafe will allow. In two or three more years, it may, with proper attention, be poffible to reduce the plantation into order, without farther danger from the wind. At this age, namely, about thirty years, the trees may Sept.'} RECLAIMING PLANTATIONS, kc. 4S3 may be thinned out from ten to fifteen feet, more or lefs, according to the richnefs of the foil, fitu- ation in point of fiielter, and vigour of the plants. About feven years afterwards (when the plan- tation will be near forty years of age), the trees will have advanced apace, from the treatment they have experienced; and may now be finally fingled out to the diftance of about thirty feet each way, more or lefs, according to circumftances, as no- ticed above. At this time, alfo, let the neceffary pruning be performed, by fending a light perfoa up to fingle out the leaders more perfeclly ; the keeping of which in order v/iil henceforth be the principal care required. RECLAIMING NEGLECTED TLANTATIONS OF FROM FIFTY TO SIXTY YEARS OLD. Plantations cf the above age, v^-hich Iiave either never been regularly thinned, or which have run into diforder, are mod difficult to reclaim. In this cafe, the branches have aiTumed the appearance of large arms, and bear a confidciable proportion to the trunk : To lop ou fuch at once would be very imprudent, and to (l-iorten them v/ould make the tr^es unfightly. A temporary unfightlinefs, however, fiiould ne- ver induce us to abandon what is evidently for the good of the plant ; nor tempt us to hazard its H li 2 health 4^4 I- O REST PLANTATIOKS. \^Sepl. health for the fake of neatnefs. If laterals can be found on fuch a limb, conveniently fituated, whereat to fhorten it, with the view of aiding or forwarding the upright growth of the tree, and the bulk of the trunk, it certainly fhould be done. However, if the tree be divided into two large limbs, iffuing from a fhort trunk, to which the limbs bear a very confiderable proportion, (which is no uncommon cafe), it would be the height of abfurdity to lop off cr fhorten the one, with the view of forming the other into a proper bole. On fmall trees this may be performed perhaps with propriety ; but on trees as thick, or twice as thick as a man*s body, the wounding of grc^t limbs, equal in thicknefs perhaps to one*s thigh, becomes a matter of hazard- It were better, in the procefs of thinning, en- tirely to take out plants of this defcription ; pro- vided, however, that, by doi-ng fo, too great blanks be not formed ; and that there be neighbouring trees of value, and with better formed Items, to fupply their places. In thinning plantations of this defcription, par- ticular care fhould be had to prevent the injury arifmg from boiflerous winds, by keeping the margins, and all points which arc much cxpofed, confiderably thicker than the interior or fj-ieltered parts. If the plantation be much overgrown, very clofe, and fland elevated, it may be found proper Hept.'] RECLAIMING PLANTATIONS, ScC. 485 proper to fef afide and prune up fome temporary trees, (perhaps baring them of branches on one fide entirely), in order to give place to plants deemed worthy of ftanding for good, and the fafety of which, by removing the former at once, might be endangered. At a revifion, in a few years, fuch pruned-up temporary trees, and others of little value, which can be fpared, ihould be removed ; thinning out the whole, as regularly as poffible, to the dillance of from thirty to forty fect> according to circum- ftances, as already hinted. In plantations of this age, and, indeed, in all clofe woods, it would be imprudent to Hub up by the roots the trees which are thinned out ; becaufe, in doing fo, the roots of thofe left (land- ing, might be ferioufly injured. They will, long ere this, have extended their roots over the whole furface : Many of the fibrous extremities will be intermixed with the roots of the plants to be cut; and thefe extremities being broken or wounded in the operation of flubbing, would prove of con- fiderable detriment to the growing trees, in as much as, from fuch extreme fibres, which may be deemed the purveyors of the plant, its chief fuf- tenance is derived. In thinning fuch plantations, alfo, it becomes a matter of very confiderable importance, to be careful not to hurt the trees to be left, by the fall ©f 486 FOREST PLANTATIONS. [^Scpf. of thofe to be taken out. With this view, it may frequently be proper previoufly to faw ofF the larger boughs of fuch plants as are to be removed, left, in their fall, they might become entangled with the branches of thofe that are to ftand, which they would not fail to injure. A block and tackle may frequently be found ferviceable to aid the endeavour of laying the tree in a particular pofition, and keeping it clear, in the fall, of the branches, or ftems of others : For, although a pradifed and fiiilful feller, provide4 the tree in queflion be pretty ftraight, and ftand fair on its foot, can almoft, to a certainty, lay the head where he wiflies it ; yet, if the ftem be crooked, and the plant grow in an oblique pof- ture, it will frequently take very unexjJefted turns in the fall. Plantationa of Scots Fir fuflain lefs injury by being kept too thick, efpecially in youth, than any other kind of trees. Indeed, to produce tall, ilraight timber, it is necelTary to keep all young plantations of Scots fir rather thick than other- wife. Therefore, fuch as have been planted at about three or four feet apart, and. which have rifen well, and are under ten years of age, fliould not be deemed negleded, even though they have been neither pruned nor thinned, provided only their leaders have been kept fingle. But fuch as have been left in this flate, from this Sept."] RECLAIMING PLANTATIONS, &C. 487 this age onwards to twenty years, without being both pruned and thinned, certainly deferve to be termed neglefted ; becaufe they will have num- berlefs dead branches, or rather flumps, left flick- ing in their boles ; which afterwards make la- mentable blemiflies in the timber; and many of the trees will be fo fmall and enfeebled, by the want of air, that they will prove good for nothing. Such plantations, therefore, as are already twenty .years of age, and have not been thinned, are certainly in a flate which requires immediate attention. At this age, they may be thinned out the firfl year, afcer commencing the work, to five feet diflance ; and, in the next, to fix feet apart, being particularly careful not to expofe them too much at once ; and, within the next ten years, they may be oc- cafionally thinned out, till they fland from nine to twelve feet apart, according to the vigour of the plants, the quality of the foil, and the expofed or fheltered nature of the fituation. But, during this time, an annual attention to prune oif fuch laterals as are unnecelTary is indilpenfable. Plantations, of thirty or forty years of age, which have been fuffered to run into diforder, mufl: be treated with ftill more caution in thin- ning. Their forlorn condition has been the con- fequence of many years negled ; and they mull not be expelled to be fuddenly reclaimed. In the firfl year, remove only the fmall overridden plants : 488 FonEsr PLANTATIONS. [Sept, plants : The fecond year go a little nearer : Mark fuch as you judge the beft for the crop ; and prune off the dead (lumps. In the third year, you may thin them out to fix feet apart, and, by the fifth year, they may be thinned out to nine feet apart. The next thinning, within ten years, may be to eighteen or twenty feet apart, provided it hap- pen at intervals of five years; and a third revi- fion, at twenty years diftance from the lafl:, fliould determine the final diftance ; which fliould be from thirty to forty feet, according to circum- llances. It may be unneceflfary to repeat, that fuch plants as have loil their leaders are the firfl objeds for removal, provided no confiderabic blank be thereby occafioned. What is above And, refpeding the Scots Fir, will equally apply to the Larch, and all others of the Fir tribe, which are planted fur timber trees. WOODS Sept."] ^OODS AND C0PSE5. 4O9' WOODS AND COPSES, Let all new-fown Coppice Woods be examined, and the patches carefully cleaned of tveeds ; and let fuch as have been fown in pits be relieved from all encroaching brufnwood. If thefe oper- ations be well performed at this time, the young plants will require no more attention till fpring. Continue the preparing of foil for future Copfes, as formerly directed. Go on with the work of pruning wavers, aji advifed laft month. It need hardly be noticed, that the only inftrument proper to be ufed in this fort of pruning is the knife ; and that the wounds ihould be made quite clean. FENCES. 49^ fENCES. ISepf. FENCES. This Is now a fit time for preparing all young Hedges for winter, by cleaning them of weeds. Recollect how difagreeable it mufl be ' for the hedger to ftand in the ditches in the winter months, probably among water ; and how little work is done under thefe circumftances, and how imperfeclly that little is performed : Therefore, let all hedges be now cleaned, and, if poffible, all deciduous hedges fwitched. If they are fwitched at this time, the wounds will be healed before the winter fet in. The building of (lone walls with mortar fhould all be fmiflied by the end of this month : Such as are built with mortar, after that time, feldom make durable walls j becaufe the rain keeps them damp till the froft comes on j which, again, from their damp ftate, takes fevere hold of them ; and fo diflblves any adhefion that was formed between the parts. Dryflone and Galloway dikes are not, of courfe, fubject to the above injuries by froft j— they may, therefore. S(fpt.'] FENCES. 491 therefore, be carried on during the autumn and winter months ; unlefs on account of the ftate of the roads, which is frequently bad ; the by- roads in particular being often impaflable. In all cafes, the planting of Evergreen Hedges muft be completed by the end of this month. If it cannot be done by that time, it will be general- ly better to defer the work till April, OCTa OCTOBER. Oct.'] THE NURSERY. 495 ^tttibtv. THE NURSERY. S EE that all the ground be made quite clean of weeds. If it is not cleaned up by the end of this month, it will probably continue in a very bad flate all the winter, or it mufl be cleaned at a great additional expenfe of labour. If the fowing of rotted feeds, as Haws, Afh- keys, Holly-berries, Roans and Yew-berries, be not finifhed, it fliould not be delayed. The foils proper for thefe, and the manner of performing the operation of fowing, have been treated of in Feb- tuary (pp. 239 — 247); which fee. This is a month highly important to the Nurfe- ryman ; becaufe, in it, he has many of his feeds to collect and fecure ; on the right perform 515 F E N C E S» Continue the cleaning of hedges of all forts. Go on with the fwijiching and clipping of all kinds of deciduous hedges, as advifcd laft month. Commence the plafhing and cutting down of old negle^ed hedges, as recoipmejided in Ja- nuary, under this article (p. 212) 5 which fee. This is now a proper feafan to begin the plant- ing of young hedges of deciduous kinds? We have treated of this fiibjeft fully in January \ and fhall therefore refer the reader for further infor- mation to that month (p. 204.) Building dikes with mortar mufl now be dif- continued during the winter months. The build- ing of dryftone and Galloway dikes may, how- ever, fiill be continued. t k 2 MO- NOVEMBER. 2^91'.'] THE NURSERY, 519 0tibtm\)tx. THE NURSERY. GATHERING SEEDS. (continue the gathering of haws, holly-berries, yew-berries, afh-keys, alder-cones, and laburnum pods, and let them be treated as dire<3:ed lafl month ; which fee. You may now commence the gathering of fir cones, fuch as thofe of Scots Fir and Spruce, to- gether with Larch. If thefe are gathered in a damp ftate, let them be fpread thin, and moder- ately dried, on a loft floor, before being laid to- gether in quantities, for keeping till fpring, when the feeds are to be taken out for fowing : take care that they be not laid in large heaps, till they be quite dry. SOWIN« 520 THE NURSERY, [^NoV, SOWING SEEDS. In cafes where you have not ah-eady acconi' plifiied the fowing of haws, afh-keys, holly, yew, or roan-berries, from the rot heap, it may ftill be done with propriety, if the date of the ground and the weather will permit. Do not, however, attempt to fow if the land be in a very damp flate. It will be found a more fafe plan to defer it till February. LIFTING PLANTS FOR THE PLANTATION. The operation of lifting deciduous trees for fuch plantations as are now to be planted, fhould be performed v/ith great care. In every cafe, fee that you injure or {horten the faj) roots of young trees but as little as poffible. Bear in mind that the principal reafon why natural fown timber, in foils adapted to its nature, arrives at fo great per- feclion, is beeaufe the ^r-st roots are allowed to remain unimpaired. Therefore, in lifting all young trees, be careful of the tap roots as well as of e- very lateral root. It is more fafe to lay the large roots of young plants horizontally in the pits, than to fliorten them in. PRUN» yOV.l PRUNING NEW LIFTED PLANTS. 521 PRUNING NEW LIFTED PLANTS FOR THE FOREST. If the directions given in Jul^ and At/gust re- fpedting pruning young plants in the lines have been attended to, little or no pruning vi^ill now be required, excepting any negleded branches on the bole, and fuch of the large roots as have been wounded in taking up. Wherever they have been bruifed or coarfely cut by the fpade, they fhould be Ihortened in to the found parts of the root fo hurt. But wherever the pruning in the lines has been negle6led, fee that it be done before thefe are fent to be planted in the foreft ; and let the pruning be peformed with attention to the directions al- ready given (p. 435.) LIFTING SEEDLINGS. The feafon is again arrived when you may commence the lifting of deciduous feedlings. Exercife all due care to preferve every root. We have before deprecated the plan of cutting in the roots of young feedling trees. Several kinds of thefe, as the Oak, the Chefnut, and probably the Beech, may require to have their tap root fhort- ened j but it fhould be done as fparingly as pof- fible. $22 VHE >JURSER.y« U^OV> fible. The Walnut, although pufhing a very ftrong root downwards, fhould never, if poflible, have the tap root (hortened ; for if it is, the up- right direction of the growth will be greatly pre- vented, and probably the health of the jilant much impaired. Seedlings, not immediately planted out, mufl: be shoughed with care. "TRENCHING VACANT QUARTERS. Such quarters as have been fevetely cropped with trees for fome confiderable time, and arc now vacant, will require to be trenched. This work fhould be performed with much care, not to leave any faft or unmoved ground between the trenches, and not to bring up much of the fub- foil. It is highly improper to attempt the deep- ening of the foil at once ; fubfequent trenchings mufl: be looked forward to, for making the land fufficiently deep. We have feveral times feen the bad efFeds of too deep trenching, efpecially for raifmg trees in a nurfery ; and ftill more particularly for raifmg feedlings. Two, or at the mofl: three inches of the fubfoil, is all that fliould be brought up in a feafon, unlefs it be evidently of a fuperior or e- qual quality with the furface, which is very rare- ly the cafe. Even if the upper foil be ten or twelve inches deep, it will be more fuitable for raifin^ JSfQV^ D1C6ING NUR81RY HANTS, &C. 523 laifing treeSj either fcedling or tranfplanted, than if it were made at once eighteen inches or tw© feet deep by bringing up the fubfoiL ©IGGINO AMONG NURSERY PLANTS WHICH ARI TO STAND IN THE LINES ANOTHER SEASON* This work may now be commenced. The fpades to be ufed fhould be very narrow, and de* prived, by previous ufe, of their fharp corners, (o that they may not injure the roots of the plants^ Let the furface be left as rough or unbroken si the circumftances of the cafe will allowo LAYING SEEDLINGS* You may now commence the laying of feedling thorns in dry ^und ; or indeed the laying of any one-year or two-year deciduous feedlings. Be careful, however, not to attempt this work in any part of the nurfery that is wet 5 otherwife many of the plants will be thrown out during winter by the frofts j and fo may be much hurt, if not quite ruined. PREPARING HEDGB-ROW AND ORNAMENTAL. DECIDUOUS TREES, This is now a very proper feafon for lifting and replanting deciduous trees intended for the above purpofes- 524 THE NURSERY. [^NcTU, purpofes. See obfervations on this work for the months oi Jaiiuary znd Februarjj (p. 135 & 237.) ROT-HEAP. Examine all the feeds lately laid in the rot- heap ; have them carefully turned over, and fur- ther mixed with dry fandy earth : Lay them neatly up in layers, not thicker than ten inches, to lye till needed j covering them over, two inches thick, with the fame fort of dry foil. ORNA- NOV.2 ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. 525 ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. If the pruning of ornamental plantations, or fmgle ornamental or hedge-row trees, is not yet performed, it ought not to be longer delayed. See that fuch grounds as are intended for plant- ing, and which have been under preparation by a crop of oats, be forthwith ploughed over, to lye till fpring. It is of much advantage to all fuch lands to have the ftubble and unreduced turf rotted during the winter, becaufe the foil is much more enriched, than if it were delayed till farther on in the feafon ; neither would the fur- face be fo much meliorated by the winter frofls, if it remained unploughed. Pitting may alfo now be carried on ; but in very few cafes will it be advifable to bury the fward in the pits at this late period of the feafon. If the fward is at all of a coarfe, or even of an adhefive or matted nature, it ought to be pared off and difcarded, as formerly advifed. PLANTING ^t§ ©RNAMSNTAL PLANTATIONS. [JS'OL. PLANTING GROUNDS, ScC. Such grounds as are of a very dry nature, and which have been prepared for planting in the fummer months, may now be planted. Wc havt often noticed the impropriety of planting at this feafon, or indeed at any feafon, when the ground is in a very wet ftate. Deciduous fmgle trees, or fniall groups of trees In dry fituations, may now be planted in thp park or the lawn. Thefe, as formerly noticed, fliould he prepared trees from the nurfery. In cafe of planting groups, let them be irregular ; circular or fquare groups are alike bad reprefentations of nature, which is in the prefent cafe the only pattern. Hedge-row trees may now alfo be planted. Indeed, the fituation of fuch is commonly dry ; therefore they may generally be planted in this month. In planting hedge-row trees, variety fhould be ftudied as far as is confiftent with the nature of the thing. Such kinds as the Sycamore, Aih, Beech, Oak, and others, fhould be planted here. The kinds to be ufed fhould not be plant- ed alternately, but perhaps two of the fame fort here; three of the next kind following; and per- haps one of each kind alternately next j and fo #n? in an irregular manner. The neceility of pro- curing ^ioV.-] TRENCHING GR.OUX»S. 52; Curing proper foil for thcfe, and for the trees to be planted in the lawn, where the native foil is bad, has already been dwelt upon at length, un- der the title Omamenial Plantations for February (p. 263.) TRENCHING GROUNDS. In the event of preparing for planting by trenching, it is proper that this work fhould be got forward at this time, in order that the ground may have the benefit of the winter frofls. In the prefent inflance, if the foil be not of a fufficient depth, the fubfoil may be thrown up, even al- though it may be of very inferior quahty, till the depth of foil be at lead eighteen or twenty inches ; becaufe, at planting, the roots of the trees will be nearly touching the former furface earth, audi will thus be much encouraged. F®. 528 FOREST PLANTATIONS. INoi?. FOREST PLAN f ATIONS. PLANTING. In all grounds which have been prepared In fummer, and which are of a dry or gravelly na- ture, planting may now be carried on. In very extenfive defigns, there cannot fail to be many fuch pieces ; and the planting of fuch, at this fea- fon, will greatly leflen the prefs of vi^ork which would otherwife neceffarily come on in the fpring. Anxiety to get forward, however, ought neither to induce to plant land in an improper (late, nor to put in kinds which ought to be referved till a more advanced period of the planting feafon. The only plants to be introduced now are the principals, and larch nurfes. On the whole, fpring planting is more fafe, efpecially for inexperienced planters. PREPARING GROUNDS. Generally fpeaking, this work ought to be all over by this time, for reafons already afligned. Yet, JVbf.] PRUNING AND THINNING. 529 Yet, circumflances may occur to Induce the plant- ing of grounds not previouily determined upon. It is now too late to think of preparing grounds, at prefent in old grafs, by the plough, for fpring planting. Such, hovvevir, as have been under grain the laft feafon, may now receive a furrow, to prepare them for fpring planting. Such grounds as are to be pitted, mud be at- tended to with much care. If the fward be pared off, and buried in the bottom of the pits, efpe- cially if of a coarfe nature, it will lye unreduced, and will rather prove a lofs, than an advantage, in the fpring. It will therefore, in general, be better to difcard the ivjavd entirely when pitting at this late feafon. The foil mud be managed in other refpecls according to its nature, as ftated at large, in M«7/, under this article (p. 388, etseg.) -, which fee. PRUNING AND THINNING. In all cafes where the operations of pruning and thinning plantations and forefts are not com- pleted, they are flill to be carried on, as recom- mended in the preceding months. Continue the felling of grown timber, as noticed laft month. ti DIGGING ^^O FOREST PLANTATIONS. [^NoV DIGGING AMONG YOUNG PLANTATIONS. Such young plantations as have been cropped with vegetables, or which are kept by the hoe without cropping, fhould at this time be cleaned of all weeds, haulm, and the chips and twigs rc- fulting from pruning ; and the ground is after- wards to be digged rough, to lye during the win- ter. The fpades to be ufed here, fhould be round- ed at the corners ; or indeed a tool, in the form of a dung-fork with three prongs, will anfvver well for faving the young roots of the plants. WOODS N0V,2 WOODS AND COPSES. 53 1 WOODS AND COPSES. Continue the various works recommended under this head laft month, as far as they are yet unfinifhed. Pruning, in particular, may go on. Examine all your Copfc grounds, whether planted or fown ; and take care that they be made free from {landing water. In like manner, the grounds under preparation muft be freed from water. There is no rearing timber to perfedionj if the ground be allowed to lye wet. L 1 2 F E N« rENCES. [^Noi\ FENCES. The whole works recommended in the preced- ing month, under this article, are flill to be car- ried forward. This is perhaps the befl feafon of any for mak- ing new fences of deciduous plants. If the land is dry, they will have made fine roots before the fevere weather of winter ; and fo be ready to pro- ceed with vigour in fpring. When, however, hedges of any of the deciduous forts are required where the foil is wet or llrong clay, it will be proper to defer the planting of fuch till fpring. As formerly obferved, dryflone ajid Galloway dikes may ftill be carried on with propriety, but by no means any wails that require to be built with mortar, for reafons formerly affigned. It may be proper to notice here, that a dryftone or Galloway dike ought never to be founded up- on ground when it is deep frozen, otherwife it will be in danger of being much loofencd when the frofl: goes off. DE- DECEMBER. Dec.2 THE NURSERY. 5^5 ^tttmhtx. T H E N U R S E R Y. 1 HE operations In this department, recommend- ed either in the months of November or January, are to be carried on in this. Efpecially, have youi- rot-heap examined, and treated again as advifed laft month (p. 524), which will ferve till the fow- ing time. In the prefent inflance, the covering of earth placed upon the feeds fliould be fix or eight inches thick, in order to proted them a- gainfi: the effeds of fevere frofls. If you have not yet got a fufficient quantity of Afh or Laburnum feeds, they may flili be collecl- cd with propriety. This is alfo a veiy proper time for procuring a full fupply of Larch and Scots Fir cones » If 53^ THE NURSERY. J^Dec, It will fometimes happen, that part of the nurfery ground which may be damp, fuch as that adapted for Birch and Aider, will be apt to throw out the young feedling plants. It will be a good means of preventing this, to deepen the alleys between the beds, or to cover tiiem with faw- duft of hard- wood timber. Saw-dud of fir tim- ber contains too much' turpentine to be ufcd in this cafe with fafety. Indeed, it fliould never be allowed to be laid upon ground till it has been feveral years rotted. Tanners bark fliould alfo be for feveral years expcfed before it Lc laid on the Nurfery. ORNA- Bee.'] ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. 537 ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS. In favourable weather, continue the planting cut of hedge-row and ornamental trees. In all fuitable fituations ; as advifed lafl month. Be careful not to plant them in too damp a fitua- tion at this feafon of the year. Never attempt to tranfplant an Evergreen of any kind at this fea- fon. All Evergreens fliould be referved to the fpring or autumn months ; which fee. The work of preparing ground for ornamental plantations may Hill go on, efpecially of trench- ing. It fhould not be flattened in the working, but left in ridges, and as whole as pofTible. It is defnable that the greatefl: poffible extent of fur- face be expofed to the adlion of the froft, in order the more perfectly to pulverifeand meliorate the foil. Pruning alfo may ftill be performed in cafes where it has not been done in September j but that is a much more proper feafon for it than this, more efpecially for the geaa ; wounds made up- on this plant, either in winter or fpring, being more liable to gum than when made in autumn. In cafes where the young plantations have not yet been digged rough for the benefit of the win- ter frofl, it may Rill be done when the weather permits. FO. 53$ FOREST PLANTATIONS. \1)CC, FOREST PLA.NTATIONS. KEEPING PLANTATIONS DRY, A variety of circumftances may have laid your young plantations in fome parts under water. Ex- amine, therefore, the whole of fuch as are liable to fuch an occurrence from their fituation ; and take care that they be made diy, or at leall as much fo as things will admit. Although we have above urged that the young plantations ihould be kept dry with care, we would not be underftood as giving the lead latitude as to keeping old woods, or timber trees of any kind, at all in a wet ftate. Indeed, if the young plant- ations require to be kept dry to fecure their pro- fperity, old trees require it much more fo ; info- much, that when we fee old foreft trees in a fick- ly flate, our firfl fufpicion generally is, that it a- rifes from too great a quantity of moifture ; and, in nine cafes out often, this proves to be the fact. It generally happens, that, at the full eftablifh- ment of a plantation, proper ditches and drains are made. But, from a change of mailers, or probably from negle£t, or it may be from an idea that it is a matter of indiiTerence, they are, in ii 7aft many inftances, allowed to be choked up, and Dec."} FOREST PLANTATIONS, 539 and the ground Is confequently more or Icfs over- flowed. In all cafss, therefore, where the health and vigour of the trees is an objeft, let the origi- nal drains be fcoured, and rather deepened than filled up ; and let new ones be made when requir- ed, fo that the whole trees may be laid dry at their roots. We have feen many Larches, Firs, and vari- ous forts of Deciduous trees, to outward appear- ance good and found timber, but, when cut down, many of them rotten in the heart, and feme of them mere hollow trunks ! All this evil had been occafioned by an excefs of moifture. Damp, or wetnefs, may be charged as the foundation of fe- veral other evils. It reduces Fir trees to a ftate inviting to a fpecies of moth ; which is known to be very deftrudive to fickly fir timber. Very lately, we faw a piece of Scots fir plantation to- tally defi:royed by this infecl. The original caufe evidently was tco much moifture ; for the piece of land was fo wet, that it required boots to en- able one to go through to examine the trees. The trees in queftion were from twenty-fix to thirty feet high. The other parts of the planta- tion on dry ground are juft now quite healthv. The whole of the works recommended in the preceding month may fiill be carried on in this* together with thofe advifed in January \ to which -^t beg leave to refer the reader. WOODS 540 WOODS AND C0P3£S. iDcC. WOODS AND COPSES. See that all Copfc Woods be laid dry in the winter. Allow us again to fay, that the health and vigour of young and old woods depend, in a great meafure, upon the ground being kept dry. Thin out patches of two-year old trees, as advifed in Fehruarij. Continue the operations of preparing ground, as advifed lafl and preceding months. The pru- ning of young Copfe Woods may now go on, 33 recommended in Januarfj for Forefl Planta- tions. Two-year old patches of trees, in young woods, iliould be thinned out. It is wrong to attempt to raife them by the fpade ; for this would injure thofe which are intended for the crop; — they fhould therefore be pulled out by the hand. Do not attempt to thin cne-year patches ; be- caufe they will make far better progrefs when left thick, than when thinned out. In thinning out your trees, ftili leave them more thick the firft year than they are intended to ftand : In a patch of twelve inches, three or four trees may be left. Where Acorns, Chefnuts, or Walnuts have beea planted, little thinning will be required ; but Beech, Elm, Afli, Birch, or the like, will re- quire mqre attention at this feafon. FEN- DeC] FENCES. 541 FENCES. The whole branches of work relating to Fences, either in the lafl or preceding months, are equal- ly proper to be carried on in this, when the wea- ther permits : Therefore, in order to prevent farther repetitions (of which there are unavoid- ably many in a book of this kind), we beg leave to refer the reader to thefe months for particular information; and efpecially to pp. 309 — 313. Great attention fhould be paid, efpecially at the commencement of a thaw after a fnow florm, to keeping ditches clear of all obftruding matters, it being equally important to the -welfare of the hedges and the fields, that the water have a free paifage. APPEN- .APPENDIX. APPENDIX. N^- I. ON THE FORMATION AND MANAGEMENT OF OSIER PLANTATIONS. JLxcEPTiNG for the purposes of forming aquatic hedge?, and preparing for plants of the tree kinds of Willow, we have not treated of the culture of Willows in tlie fore- going work. Indeed, this matter does not directly fall under the kind of subjects proposed to be treated of in the Kalendar ; although it is not a less important and useful branch of rural concern. It is well known that, in a variety of instances through- out Scotland, from the varied surface of the country, a great many parcels of gi'ound, of less or greater di- mensions, are better adapted for the growth of Willow* than for any other crop. Many of these spots contain a soil of a soft texture, and of a quahty apt to imbibe and retain too much moisture, after being improved for producing crops of grain, but which moisture would- be readily swallowed up by osier plants, greatly- to their benefit. Probably there are few crops which can drink up a greater quantity of superfluous moisture, and be in luxuriant health, than that under consideration. M ra Althoug^< 54^ PLANTATIONS OF Osiers. [^App.J. Altlioujrh we readily admit this fact, we are far from allowing that the ground for Osier plantations should be suifered to be wet in the bottom. Indeed, when- ever this is the case, the shv>ots will never arrive to any tolerable consistency for wicker-work, and will never be able to resist the early frosts of autumn. We saw a striking instance of this four years ago, in an attempt to raise a plantation of Willows in a part of the small lake of Locliore, in Fifeshire. This lake formerly co- vered five or six hundred acres of space j and was drain- ed, about thirty years ago, by Captain Park of Loch- ore. When tlie water was let off, the bottom proved to be a sludgy sediment, of many feet in thickness, and of a quality apparently very rich ; but so soft, that no- thing could be sown upon it for a considerable time. At length, it acquired such a degree of consistency, as to allow cuts to be made for draining out the water from the body of the soil or sediment. These cuts could only be made to a small depth at first, because the whole was still in so soft a state, that it inclined, like water, to every deep opening or cut that was made in it. Willows were planted on a part of it. By the time we saw it, the plantation of willows was surround- ed with a ditch more than a yard wide, and nearly a:j deep ; at one side, much deeper and wider : but, when the ground was broke to two feet deep inwards from the ditches, it was as soft as mortar ; hence, wlien the roots of the willows got down that length, they drank too copiously of the moisture ; and the conse- quence was, that they died down generally half their length,, and that many of them died down quite to the ground by December, notwithstanding that, in Sep- tember, they had looked tolerably healthy. M^ny moro instances of the same kind might be stat- ed. Jpp, /.] PLANTATIONS OF OSIERS. 54^ ed. We shall, however, be contented with mention- ing the opinion of a gentleman, who has made the cul- tivation of Willows part of his employment. He says, *' ' Moderate moisture is favourable to tiie production of * fine twigs ; but water co)itniuallif stagnant, may be * consiilercd ruinous. The writer has seen good osiers ' grov,' where water stood in the bottom of an old ditch ' during the greater part of the winter months ; but * thinks that water continually stagnant is verydestruc- * tive in summer, by preventing the wo(;d from ripen- * ing ; and he apprehends, that when good osiers grow * in water, the roots must reach sound, dry soil, im- * mediately contiguous ; which was the case in the in- * stance mentioned above ; for the soil was dry and mo- * deratciy rich also, on each side of the ditch. ' It ought, hojvever, to be noticed, that the kinds of Willows which are naturally of a firm and woody tex- ture, as the common sallow (Salix aquatica) endure standing water much better than such sorts as make na- turally very vigorous pushes like the common hoop wil- low, and some of the basket willows. We know of a striking instance of this on the estate of Raith in Fife- shire, at the West Mill-dam, part of which is occasi- onally dry during the summer months, but seldom in winter. Many years ago, the part which is occaiiional- ]y dry was planted with basket willows of various kinds j but those which throve best, and continued to live long- est, were the hard-^^ ooded kinds, vvhich made natural- ly-small shoots. It is presumed that these instances will show the ne- cessity of completely draining the site of a proposed Willow plantation, as the first step towards its Ibrnia- M m 2 tion,, Mr Shirrtn's I'oper on 0»ic-r», Far, Mag. May liiOa 's I'oper on 0»ic-r», Far, Mag. May U J4S PLANTATIONS OF OSIERS. [_-^PP' -^•• tion, and as the foundation of its prosperity, and con- sequently of the profit to be derived from it. Drains in any j^round to be occupied with a permanent crop of trees, should be constructed upon principles of durabi- lity. If the drains be what are called rubble druinSy the interstices will suddenly be filled up with the fibres of the willow roots, whicli will creep down to drink the oosinir water. They ought therefore either to be open drains, or drains built on the sides, and covered over with flags, to prevent their being choked up with the roots. A variety of cases may however occur, where it will be impossible to form covered drains, or where, perhaps, the expense might operate as a pi'ohibition to doing so with the view of planting willows. In such cases, the ground may be formed into beds of a less or greater size, according to circumstances, by cut? or drains of a wideness and depth sufficient to lay the soil dry. These drains will require to be cleaned out every autumn and spring. The scrapings may be thrown abroad up- on the general surface of the beds. In several instan- ces, where we have been employed in forming Osier plantations, we have been compelled to make the beds only six feet wide, from the softness of the land j yet such plantations succeeded well. Btit, whatever be the width of the beds or ridges be- tween the drains, the surface of grass ought to be well reduced by crops of graiji and green crops, wherever the soil will at all produce such crops. In preparing ground for an Osier plantation ; if the soil be poor, it should be well dressed with dung, as if it were intended for a crop of wheat or barley. The dung most proper for willows is stable dung. We have found the twigs much ^fired, or spotted with a sort of canker, so that they broke over thereat in attempting to ,/1pp. /.] PLANTATIONS OF OSIERS. 545 to bend them, after the ground being- limed. Indeed, if a ])lantation of Osiers be formed previous to a llioroiigh preparation of the soil for the reception of the })lants, tlie saving of the expense wCl be found a most severe loss, by the diminution of the crop in succeeding seasons. Tliere are few soils which will not bear Willows ; yet acme situations are very unfit for them. Dry and ex- posed grounds, peat moss, and land covered with stand- ing water, or a quagmire, are not fit. Hollows, the soil of which is composed of rich, soft, earthy parti- cles, and which can be laid dry, are the most eligible for converting into osieries ; and, if such can be occa- sionally soaked with water during the dry months in summer, the situation may be considered perfect, and the advantages will be found veiy great. Although we would give a preference to a situation like the above, we are far from attempting to dissuade from cultivating them in others. We know of osieries planted in veiy diiierent soils, and very differently situ- ated ; yet producing very great returns to the owners. A few acres of Osiers planted upon the south exposure of a sloping bank, sheltered from the south-west by a belt of plantation, and in a cold, humid, clay soil, on the farm of Hayfield near Ku'kaldy, has yielded from 25/. to 30/. per acre annually for a number of years past. This piece of ground was under agricultural rotation crops for a great many years before being planted with willows ; but it was so damp, and so much sheltered from the west by a plantation, and from the north by its situation, that the crops of grain were generally of poor quality. It was therefore consigned to bear willows, which were planted after a crop of potatoes in February ISOl. Mr $^0 PLANTATIONS OF OSIERS. Z^PP' 1^ Mr ^irrcfT's plantation of Osiers was nearly under si- milar circumstr-rices in regard to shelter and quality of soil. The lowness of the situation, and greater humi- dity of the soil, were greatly in his favour. The de- scription of this otiier plantation follows. * It i.s situat- * ed in a bottom, sheltered from the west and north * winds by hedges and hedge-row trees, but exposed to * the south-east, the fences being low on these sides. * The soil may generally be denominated a clayey loam, *^of coarse quality. It had probably, till about thirty- ^ five years ago, been under natural meadow ; and a * considerable part of it was subject to be flooded in * winter. An open drain or ditch, six feet wide, and * three and one half deep, cured it of this inconveni- * ence. It had afterwards been in the rotation of crops * common to the practice of good agriculture in the * district, and frequently laid down to pasture in excel- * lent preparation for several years, at different times * since that period. The pasturage, however, was but * coarse ; and crops of grain, excepting oats, were sel- *• dom valuable. ' In no case i-.hoiild a plantation of willows be attempt- ed (as noticed above) but in j^repared ground ; except- ing perhaps where a few rows may be introduced upon the very brink of a river, or on the top of the counter- ditches, which form in many instances the barrier of the M-aters, where the soil can scarcely be dug or other- wise meliorated. Nothing can be farther from being good management than planting the truncheons in grass, and allowing the sward to remain green undS, or among, the crop. Having fixed upon the spot, and having also care- fully prepared the ground, the next matter in course is procuring the plants. These, notwithstanding of all that App. /.] PLANTATIONS OF OSIERS. 55I that has been said about strong old shoots, we would recommend to be of the last year's wood, or of shoots of one year old, taken from tlie under end of well- i-ipcned shoots of good bize, and cut in a slanting di- rection by a sharp knife, and in lengths ot one ibot, or one foot four inches. Each shoot of good growth may afford two or three plants ; the upper ends, as far as appears soft, should be discarded, because such produce weak slioots, and do not make so good roots the first season, as the firmer parts of the shoots dc. Pieces of two-year old shoots of the same length, and cut in the same manner, may also be used ; but such are more expensive, and not better for the puipo.se than the former. If, indeed, they are intended for planting among grass, or to beet up decayed plants in an established plantation, they should be used greater, older, and longer. Two, or three-year old shoots several feet long, and pushetl into the ground perhaps a foot or eighteen inches, are necessary for such purposes. But in a well dressed or prepared field, the first de- scribed cuttings are by far the best, whether the plan- tation be intended for basket twigs or for hoops. The distances at which osiers for wicker work ought to be planted, is eighteen inches between the rows, and twelve inches apart in the rows. This distance will not be too tliick for at least five or six years j but, af- ter that period, the plants should be alternately stubbed up ; which will leave them at two feet apart in the rows. The stools should be carefully attended to annually, from the first year of producing a crop of twigs, to keep them clean of rotten stumps, and not to allow them to be overcrowded with the bottoms of the shoots. When these have become too numerous, thev should be carefully thin- ned out, and also cut down, leaving only an eye or two ^5^ PLANTATIONS OF OSIERS. [^App, 1^ at the bottom of each, until they be diminished to such a number jis the stool is capable of supporting with vi- gour throughout the season. A basket-maker finds more service fiom a shoot of six or eight feet in length, than from four of three feet in length ; and one of the first dimensions will not exhaust the stool or the land, so much as four of the others. The proper season for cleaning and thinning the stocks, is from the first of March to the middle of April. It is done by a sharp knife, and if it has been regularly attended to from the establishment of the plantation, it is neither troublesome nor expensive. In~ deed, this care is necessary, were it only for keeping them clean of destructive msects. We have seen seve- ral instances of neglected stools proving a harbourage of insects, which have eaten up the crop. Willows are generally planted by being pushed into the ground by the hand, which must be well defended by a piece of strong leather ; but sometimes, in push- ing in the cutting, the bark is pressed off. In order to prevent this, it is better to use a common dibble shod with iron, and have them planted by it, like ordinary planting in the nursery. Where the ground is any way hard, or where there is a danger of pushing off the bark, they should be planted so as to leave five or six inches above ground, that, when it may become necessary, the top of the stool may be cut oft", in order to renovate tliem. This may happen to be in ten or twelve years after planting ; and the practice will be iound of considerable advantage. It is a matter of in- difference whetlier the cuttings be planted in a sloping pr perpendicular position. Some have advised to plant a crop of potatoes among the new planted willow cuttings j but this method ia j[iigh1y deitructivc to the new fornicd plantation. Inr deedi ,App. I'\ PLANTATIONS OF OSIERS. ^^. deed, cuttings of any description require every encou- ragement to enable them to root freely : But if there be ** a potato plant dibbled into the centre of each interspace, " alter the planting of the willows, even sup- posing them to be two feet apart, we presume the land nnist be greatly impoverished, the new planted cuttings retarded in growth, and the ultimate advantage dimi- nislied in no inconsiderable degree. It may be sif/fir- able to place a potato plant in the centre of each inter- space, wliere the willows are four or five feet distance from each other, and when rooted plants are used ; but never when the distance is only two feet, even although root- zed plants were used. After the planting of the osiers, they must be care- fully hoed and cleaned : Nothing contributes more to the rearing of a good crop, after due preparation, than cleaning. We know of several plantations of osiers, which iiave been formed at considerable expense, but having afterwards been let run wild, the crop at pre- sent is not annually worth a fourth part of the sum it would have been worth, if it had been duly kept clean by the hoe. Even when the expense is compared with the advantages, the balance is greatly on the side of cleaning. If the work of cleaning be attended to from the first onwards, the expense may be estimated at from 25s. to 35s. per acre pit^f annurn^ according to the na- ture of the soil ; but in no case perhaps will it cost more than 21. Sterling. And money expended, at the above rate, upon the plantation, will be found to yield a return of 300 or 400 per cent, per annum ! The spring hoeing of the willow plantation should always be performed by a deep hoe of small breadth, in order that the earth may be stirred to several inches of depth. Indeed, were it not for the great increase of expense, 554 PLANTATIONS OF OSIERS. [^'fpp. /. expense, it would be proper to bnve the interspaces digged by the spade. Subsequent cleaning may be per- formed by the common draw-hoe, or by theDutcli hoe, with great propriety. The willows should not be cui till the second season after planting. By being allowed to stand uncut for such a length of time, the stools become stronger, and more able to produce a good crop, than if cut at an earlier period. Indeed, by the third autumn after planting, under the above management, the crop wiii be of very considerable value. In establishing a willow plantation for hoops, the same care and attention to the })reparation of tli« ground is necessary, as well as to its quality. Such plantations should never be attempted upon a thin, poor gravelly moor soil, nor indeed in any which are not evidently appropriate for the purpose. Hoop, will- lows, however, require to be planted thinner at the first, than osiers for basket work. If the former be planted two feet betv/een the rows, and eighteen inches between the plants in the rows, it will be thick enough. Like the others above noticed, they should not be cut till the second year after planting ; by which time, they W'ill generally have formed one strong shoot, with pro- bably some inferior twigs. In the Mrst cutting, care must be had not to allow any part of the fmoII twigs, or side shoots, to be left, but to cut them clean off. Were a part of these allowed to remain, such might produce a crop of twigs fit for wicker work ; but by no means adapted for the purpose in view. It is better to have a few good growths, than a profusion of others. At no period should any one stool be allowed to bear too many shoots, otherwise they will be small and worthless. Every manager of willows has it in his power j4pV. /.] PLANTATIONS OF OSIERS. c;^^ power to increase or diminish the number" of shoots from the stools unrler his care: For if he take off tlie &hoots clean by the stem of the plant in springy, the number of shoots will be proportionally diminished in the following season- The proper season for cutting willows is any time during the month of November, or in the mouth of March. If they are cut after November, they have the chance of encountering much damp, and severe frosts, which never fail to injure the stools, and diminish the strength of the shoots, in the succeeding season. If the cutting be deferred till the month of April, the sap has probably begun to ascend with rapidity j and must necessarily continue to exude from the wound, till nature find more proper channels in some of the adjoining buds. If, therefore, the cutting of wil- lows be properly attended to in regard to the season, the extremes pointed out will be avoided. No doubt, in some seasons, the winter cutting may extend to the middle or end of December ; and the spring cutting from the middle of March to the middle of April, ac- cording to the state of the weather. With regard to the manner of cutting, it may be proper to notice, that the cut should be made to within two or three buds of the place from whence the shoot issued, and even, if possible to attend to directiojis in the form of the cut, it should be in a sloping direction, at the back of the uppermost bud left on the bottom of the shoot on the stool. In cutting hoop willows from the stools, the sii:ell at the bottom of the shoot only should be left. This part is amply, furnished with proper outlets for the rising sap, so that it is unnecessary to leave so much at the •bottom of those as above advised for basket willows, especially ^^6 PLANTATIONS OF OSIERS. ^Jpjf. I. especially as fewer shoots arc required in the present case, ^^'^e are decidedly hostile to the barbarous cus- tom not uncommonly practised by coopers in cutting hoops from the stools. Under the idea of saving the hoops from being spKt, they hack them oil' downwards, and thus the under part left upon the stool is split into many pieces, to the manifest injury of the plant. It may be useful here to remark, that osiers in the peeled state are more fit to be kept to wait a market than if left with the bark on ; and they never fail to pro- duce a greater return in the peeled state, after paying for the labour of peeling, than they do as they are cut from the stools. The operation of peeling is very simple, and may be- done by infirm people, or by women, at so much a bundle. The way to prepare the willows for peeling is as fol- lows.—Immediately after cutting them, set them on their ends into standing water, a few inches deep, and allow them to remain in that situation till the growth begins to ascend freely, which will probably be by th« end of May. They are then ready to part with the bark. The apparatus for peeling is simply two round rods of iron, nearly half an inch thick, sixteen inches long, and tapering a little upwards, welded together at the one end, which is sharpened, so as that it may be ea- sily thrust down into the ground. When thus placed, in a piece of firm ground, the peeler sits down «x"p'>bite to it, and takes the willow in the right lumd by the small . end, and puts a foot or more of the great end into the instrument, the prongs of which he presses (out-tbr^r widi the left hand, and with the right draws Vac wi.iow towards him ; by which operation the bark will nt onr.e he Ap]i. /.] PLANTATIONS OF OSIERS. Jt;^ be separated from the wood : The small end is then ti'eatcd in the same manner, and the peehng is com- pleted. Good willows, peeled in the above manner, liave been sold, for some seasons past, at from Gs. Gd. to 7s. the bundle of four feet circumference. After beinj; peel- ed, they will keep in good condition for a long time, till a proper market be found. In regard to the kinds of willows proper to be plant- ed, much might be said ; for no kind of plant generally cultivatc-d exhibits so many different species as the wil- low. Several of these, it must be owned, are very im- proper for being cultivated for the above purposes ; and to this circumstance, in some instances, may be attri- buted tlie failure of the crops. We may observe, in general, that by far the easiest way of procuring proper sorts, is to get them from some established plantations, containing willows of good quality, approved by basket makers and coopers. We shall here, however, describe, in a slight and popu- lar way, the different species of willows which best deserve to be cultivated for hoops and for the various sorts of wicker work. We may premise, that in every district both of Scotland and England, basket- makers and osier grow- ers have provincial names for their willows. 1 o men- tion these would be quite nugatory. We shall there- fore give the correct English names^ as fixed by Dr Smith, and also the scientific or botanic names ; and by means of these unitetl, we doubt not that the species recommended may, with tolerable certainty, be procur- ed at the principal nurseries both in England and Scot- land, by those who are desirous of cultivating only the Kost select kinds. The C'oinmon Osier {Saliu viminalis] is the most fre- quent ^^S PLANTATIONS OF OSIERS. \_App. I. queiit species in willow plantations, and it is naturalized in many parts of .Scotland. The leaves are long, waved at the cd^es, but not serrated ; shining green above, and silvery beneath. The shoots grow very long and .-straight, and are tough ; well calculated for the larger sorts of baskets, hampers, and crets, and likewise for hoo])s. Several well marked varieties occur in osier plantations, and are there distinguished by different names. It is well known, that in most species of wil- low, the male and the female flowers are produced on separate plants ; it often liaiipens that the female plant is considered by the osier growers as a distinct kind ; and if they differ considerably in quality the distinction is fair ; but kinds thus come to be created which the botanist cannot recognize. The Auricled Osier {S. stipnlaris) is a very good ■willow. The two-year old shoots make excellent rods lor baskets, cradles, bird-cages, and such articles ; and the one-year shoots are used as JilUngs. The shoots are long, nearly e(jual in thickness throughout their ex- tent, and somewhat downy, or hoary, particularly at the tops or extremities. The leaves are alternate, with footstalks, long and narrow, somewhat notched on tho edges, green and smooth above, woolly below. The stipuke or leaf-scaks are conspicuous and remarkable, resembling a pair of ears : both the English and the botanic name have relerence to this part of the plant. It occurs in many willow plantations, but is not much attended to, being often confounded with the common osier. The Green Osier (.S. ruhra)^ is an excellent basket willow, but it is not very common. The shoots are very- long, tough, smooth, and of a grey colour, occasionally inclining to purplish. The leaves arc narrow and very U)ntr, App. /.] PLANTATIONS OF OSIERS. 559 long, from tliree to four incJics, bright green on both sides, and serrated. Tlie trivial name rubra is not ap- posite J but it has been retained by Dr Smith in hiss excellent Flora Britannka. The Basket Osier, emphatically so called by Dr Smith in his Flora Britannica, is perhaps the very best willow for the finer sorts of basket-work. It is not, however, much known in Scotland, though a native ; but it well deserves attention. The wands are of a yellowish asli colour, sometimes purplish; smooth, verv flexible and tough. Tiie leaves are alternate, on foot- stalks, from two to three inches long, somewhat serrat- ed, chiefly towards the top ; dark green above, and glaucous or pale bluish beneath. This species is de- scribed in Dr Martyn's edition of Miller's Gardener's Dictionary, luider the name of Salixjissa : in the Flora Britannica it is named S. Forbjjana, in honour of the Rev. Mr Forby of Norfolk. The Long-leaved triandrous Willow (S. triandra,) is common in osier beds, and its stools afford most excel- lent shoots for basket-work, long, slender, pliable and tough ; they are smooth, of a brownish colour, and towards the top they are fluted or grooved. The leaves are long, and closely and strongly serrated. When permitted to grow up, this sp.ecies attains the size of a tree, and the male flowers or catkins are very orna- mental in April and May. The Almond-leaved Willow (S. amygdalina,) is like die preceding, but is readily distinguished by its leaves being broader, so as to resemble those of the almond- tree. This species forms but an indifferent osier, though it is often used, particularly in the north and west of Scotland, where it is frequent as a native. The Long-leaved Sallow {S, aaimiiiata), produces numerous S6o PLANTAFIONS OF OSIERS. \^Aj)p. I numerous shoots, which, in the second year, form pretty good rods. The leaves are about two inches long, and one inch broad ; dark green above, and cottony under- neath. It is not a common species in Scotland. The ^"e]vct Osier (6\ ynollissima)^ is a useful sort. It is easily distinguished by its leaves being very smooth and green above, and very silky and soft beneath. It« shoots are long, and very numerous, but not tough. When allowed, liowever, to remain for two years, they ]nake most capital rods. The shoots are distinguished from many others by their forming a large bend where they come oft' from the stool. This' species is indige- nous to many places of Scotland, as well as England, and should be more cultivated in osier grounds thaw it is. The Bitter purple Willow {S. purpurea), is not com- mon in Scotland ; but in Yorkshire, its long slender twigs are sometimes used for fillings to the finer sorts of baskets. It makes excellent bands or withes, being ex- tremely tough ; and the bark is so exceedingly bitter, that no vermin will attack it. Tliis, it is beheved, is one of the sorts in demand for tying the hoops on the beef barrels in the Navy Victualling Yard. The leaves are remarkable for becoming broader upwards or out- wards ; they are smooth, and somewhat glaucous ; but the excessive bitterness of the leaves and bark, forms perhaps the easiest mark of distinction. Tiie Rose W^illow (.S. Helix, Fl. Brit. ; S. monandra of Hoffman). This is very like the former, but is not bitter. It is more common. Its numerous slender purplish twigs make very good fillings for fine basket work. The Buyton Willow (5. Lamhertiana) resembles the llcie Vvillow ; bui its leaves are shorter, and have shorter App. /.] PLANTATIONS OF OSIERS, 56 1 shorter leaf-stalks. It is one of tlie hardest wooded willows. Its twigs are much used for basket fillings in England ; and it is pretty well known in Scotland by the name of Packthread fVillois:. The yellow Willow (5. vitdUna), produces handsome shoots, of a yellow colour and shining, and well adapt- ed for basket-work. The leaves are nearly sessile, or have only a very short foot-stalk ; they are minutely serrated, smooth and shining above, and somewhat of a bluish tint, and sillcy beneath. In osier grounds, al- most every willow with a yellowish bark is called a yello'jo willow ; but the true Salix vitelUna is not com- mon, at least in Scotland. The Pui'slane WiEow, or Cane Willow of the late Dr Walker, {S. decipiens of Hoffman ?), produces very beautiful shoots, with a fine hvely bark, hke some sorts of cane. It forms a good basket osier. It grows some- times to a large size, and then greatly resembles the Crack Willow, S. fragilis. The Dark Broad-leaved Willow, or, as it is sometimes called, the Black WiUow, (5. nigricans.) This is scarcety to be found in Scots osier grounds ; though it occasionally occurs in those of England, It is cer- tainly not worth cultivating, its wands being apt to break. The Violet Willow {S. violacea of Don's Cambridge Catalogue,) deserves the same character. It is much, fitter for an ornament in the shrubbery, than to be planted as an osier. Its one-year shoots are very flexi- ble till about December or January j but after that period they readily snap. The tree Willows mentioned in a former part of this Avork (p. 103) niay be so kept down and managed as to N n cause 562 PLANTATIONS OF OSIERS. [^^/>i?. /• cause tliem to produce numerous shoots, forming excel- lent rods, hoops, and poles. The Sweet or Bay-leaved Willow {S. pcntandra) is a pretty common native of Scotland : Here, however, it is scarcely attended to as an osier ; while in Yorkshire its shoots are often used for making the larger sorts of baskets, hampers, and crets. The Crack Willow [S. fragilis) is frequent in willow plantations, and, when duly kept down, forms a good osier. The shoots and twigs are flexible and tough ; the name alluding only to the circumstance of their very readily separating at the point of insertion into the trunk. The leaves are about four inches long, and an inch and a half broad, deeply serrated. Tlic Bedford or Dishly Willow [S. Ilusselliana), has already been particularly recommended to attention as a tree. When rightly managed, its stools afford very good shoots for hoops or for poles. The Conmion White, or Huntingdon WiDow [S, alba) possesses similar qualities with the Bedford Wil- low. The two-year old shoots make pretty good hoops, and excellent poles or stakes. Of the above species, nine are decidedly natives of Scotland, viz. S. triandra, mollissima, amygdalina, he- lix, pcntandra, fragilis, dccipiens, russelliana, and alba. S. viminaJis, or common osier, is completely naturalized, being found on the banks of streams, and by the sides of ditches near every village. The same thing is in some measure true of S. stipularis and vitellina. Most of the other species are cither indigenous to England, or naturalized in the osier holts of that country. The Violet Willow is therefore the only truly exotic species here mentioned. It was introduced from Russia not many years ago. No. App, //. j LIST OF REMARKABLE TREES. ^6^ LIST OF SOME REAIARKABLY LARGE TREES IN SCOTLAND. In the section on Soils, and in that on Kinds of Trees, in the foregoing work, we have mentioned some, in- stances of trees growing to a large size in the soils adapt- ed to their respective natures. There are, however, many more much larger trees in Scotland than those there taken notice of; a list of some of which we here beg leave to subjoin, as a stimulus to the cultivation of timber in Scotland. We may be permitted to ob- serve, thiat if trees of the following kinds have arrived . to so considerable a size in this countryj under a short and much varied summer, and generally matured alone by the hand of nature, it is a powerful earnest of what may be done by good management. Further, the en- ormous sizes to which the same kinds have arrived, in the southern parts of England, and in the v.-armer latitudes of Europe, and other quarters of the globe, borne testimony to by various writers and historians, seem no longer surprising. We regret that it is not at present in our power to state the quality of soil in v/hich the respective trees have arrived to so considerable a size ; perhaps at some future period this may be done. It is only by stu- dying the quality of soil, and the situation in which N n 2 treca 564 t^IST OF REMARKABLE TREES. f^ApJ). II, trees luive been long healtl)}-, and in which they have arrived at the n^o^t considerable size, that we are direct- ed with certainty in the operations of rearing timber to the greatest possible perfection. THE OAK. r. IN. An oak tree, at Killearn Place, in Stirlingshire, in' 1795, measured in circumference ( I) - 12 0 Another at Coekwood, in Annandale, in the month of April 1773, measured, at six feet from tJie ground, in circumference - - 14 0 This ti'ee was about 60 feet high, and suppos- ed to be about 230 years old. (2) At Blairquosh, in the parisli of Strathblane, Stirlingshire, an oak measured, in 1796, in cir- cumference (3) _____ 150 The remains of a decayed oak, upon the road between Inverness and Strontian in Argylcshire, were measured ii> October 1764-, and found to be in girth, at a foot above the ground (34) - 17 t3 JVallace's oak, so named for ages, must have been a large tree 500 years ago. It was situated in a wet clay soil, in the Tor-wood, near Falkirk, and in 177 1 was supposed to be in girth, at four feet above the ground - - _ - 22 0 No trace of this venerable tree now remains. Tlie 1) Stat. Acct. Vol. XVI. p. .7. 2) V\'alker's Essays oir Xat. Hist arid Rural Econ. p. 4. 5) Stat. Acct. Vol. XVIII. p. 580. 4) Walker's Essays, p. 6. He says, that many remains of oaks were observed, approaching to the same size, in this valley of Morven; situated among rank hcallicr, in deep peat-eartli, lying above banks of mountain, gravel 'ApP' //.] LIST OF REMARKABLE TREES. ^6^ F. IN. The largest oak which we liave noticed in Scot- land is in the old oak wood on tlie north side of Loch Arkecf, in Lochabei'. When measured, it Avas found to be in girth, at four feet above the ground (5) ------ 24. 6 In a moss in the parish of Auchterderran in Fifeshire, the remains of an oak which has its root several feet above the bottom of the moss, Measures in diameter at the root - - 6 0 THE LARCH. Tliis is but a newly introduced tree ; none of .them are above 60 years old ; the oldest are to he found at Dunkeld. The finest of these is 100 ^et high, and in circumference at the ground 10 0 In Monzie garden there are four larch trees, said to be the largest in the island. They are i?ot yet 60 years old ; yet the largest one is 80 feet high, and its girth at the gromid is - 16 0 Other two are about the same height, but the circumference of the one at the ground is - 15 0 The otlier is _____ 90 And the last is 90 feet high, and at the ground Is in ^irth only (6) - - - - _ 8 0 An ash at Lord Morton's, near Aberdour, in Fifeshire, measured in March 1812, extended in length of bole 50 feet, and in girth, at four feet high --.-_-_ 10 3 An 5) Walker's Essays, &c. p. 9. 6) Stat. Acct, ^'ol. XV. p. 254. ^66 LIST OF REMARKABLE TREES. ^App. II, F. IX. An ash at Newbottle, in Mid-Lothian, stand- ing east from the house, near the river, in the month of July 1789, measured in circumfer- ence (7) ---_-. 1 1 4< An ash in the island of Loch Leven, in Fife- shire, in September 1796, measured, in circum- ference, at four feet from the ground - 12 0 An ash at Yair, in Selkirkshire, measures, at the surface, in circumference (8) - - 12 9 An ash near the church of Logierait, in Perth- shire, measured, at four feet from the ground, in 1770 (9) 16 0 An ash tree at Wemyss Castle, in Fifcshire, growing about 100 yards from the gate, measur- ed, on the 13th March 1812, 35 feet bole ; and in circumference, at four feet from the ground 15 9 An ash in the church-yard of Bonhill, in Dumbartonshire, in September l'i'81', measured in circumference at the surface - 33 0 The Glammis Ashtree at Castle-Huntly in Perth- shire, measured in circumference at the ground 27 0 And at a yard high (10) - 17 0 At the river Blackburn, in the parish of Castletown in Roxburghshire, the trunk of an old ash measures in circumference (11) - IS 0 An ash at Midstrath, in the parish of Bins, at the ground (12) - - - 20 0 An 7) Walker's Essays, p. 12. 8) Sc-lkiilisliiro Rep. p. aS4. 9) Hie same tree, measured in IMarch 1812, was found to be, at breast height, 21 feet g inches in circumference. 10) Statistical Account, voL XIX. p. 4C7. 11) Id. vol. XVI. p. 79. IJ) J.I. vol. IX. p. 129. App.II.'] LIST OF REMARKABLE TREES. ^6'J V. IX. An ash near Deskford, in the county of Banff, called St John's Tree, measures in girth (12) 24? 5^ A few yards from Cessford Castle, in Rox- burghshire, there is a venerable ash tree, which measures at the base (13) - - 27 8 An ash tree near Bonhill House, in Dum- bartonshire, which is surrounded with a slop- ing bank of earth, about three feet in height, measured, in circumference, in September 1784, at four feet above the general surface of the ground (14) - - - - - 34 1 An ash tree in the church-yard of Kilmalie, in Lochaber, burnt down during the tvoubles in 1746, was long considered as the lai'gest and most remarkable tree in Scotland. Its remains were measured -in October 1764, and, at the ground, the circumference was no less than (15) 58 0 THE EL3I. On the estate of Castle- Huntly there are se- veral fine Scots elms, which measure, at three feet from the ground, about (16) - 11 0 At 12) Statistical Account, vol. IV. p. Jll. 15) Id. vol. VII L p. 56. 14) Walker's Essays, p. 15. Tlie proprietor has fitted up a room in ilie inside of it with benches around, and glass windov»s. Tlie diame- ter of the room is eight feet fiv« inches, and its roof is near eleven feet in height. 15) Walker's Essays, p. 17. Tliis tree stood in a deep rich soil, on- ly about tliirty feet above the level of the sea, in Lochiel, witli a small ?ivulet running witliin a few paces of it 16) Stalistitiil Account, vol. XIX. p. 464. 568 LIST OF REMARKABLE TREES. \_App. II. r. IN. At Lord Morton's, Aberdour, Fiic, there is a Scots elm, which measured, March 10. 1812, forty feet length of bole, and in girth - 116 Two elms at Yair, in Selkirkshire, measure, each, at the surface of the ground (17) - 13 0 An elm tree in the parish of Roxburgh, ia Tiviotdale, called tlie Tnjsting Tree, was mea- sured in 1796, and its girth, at four feet from the surface of the ground, found to be (IS) 30 0 THE BEECH. A beech at I>cslie House, in Fifeshirc, mea- sured, in March 1812, by estimation, 56 feet to the branches, and was in girth, at breast high -.-.--- 11 0 Another, at the same place, is 30 feet of bole, and, at the same height from the ground, in girth - - --- --13 8 Another, at breast high, at the same place and time, measured in circumference - - 15 0 Another, at same height, with a trunk 15 feet, was in girth - - ___ 102 Another, at same height, with a trunk 60 feet 10 0 Near the Abbey of Balmerino, on the banks of the river Tay, a beech tree, measured in 1793, was found to be in girth (19) - 12 7 A beech at Invcrary, whose stem was 12 feet in length, and the diameter of its head 90 feet, had a trunk whose circumference was (20) 14 0 A 17J Selkirksliirc Report, p. t>87. 18) Sta'i- itvil Account, vol. XIX. p. 151. 19) Id. \.l. IX. p. 223. 20) Arj5)lc;=lure Report, p. MC, 'App. II.'] LIST OF REMARKABLE TREES. 569 F. IX. A beech, near the castle of Kcllj', in . tlic county of Fife, was measured in 1793 j its stem was 30 feet in heiglit, and the circumference (21) - - 16 0 The large beech at Ncwbottle Abbey, stand- ing on the lawn behind the house, was measured in July 1789, and the circumference ascertained to be - - - - - - . 170 The large beech at Ormiston-hall, in East- Lothian, measured, in May 1762, in circumfe- rence ------- 18 10 A beech near the house of Oxenford, in Mid- Lothian, was measured in June 1763, and, at three feet high, the circumference was (22) 19 6 THE SILVER FIR. A silver fir, at the house of Polkemmet, in "West Lothian, measured, in October 1799, in circumference - - - - - 100 The above tree was planted in 1705 (23). A silver fir, in the old garden at Woodhouse- lee, in Mid Lothian, measured, in March 1793, (24) II 1 A silver fir, at Drimilanrig, in Nithsdale, pleasured, m April 1773 - - - 120 21) Statistical Account, vol. XIII, p. 3. 22) Walker's Essays, p. 21. 25) Idem, p. 56. 24) Idem, p. 36. r^y(^ LIST OF REMARKABLE TREES. lApp. II. SCOTS FIR. J. IX. Tliere is in Gordon Castle an uncommonly large square board of Scots fir, made from a tree vliich grew in Glen more wood. The board measures five feet six inches square. It was pre- sented to the Duke of Gordon by the Company who bought that wood from his Grace. A Scots fir, at Inverary, measures in circum- ference (25) - - - - - - 100 A Scots fir at Castle- Kuntly, in Perthshire, was measured in 1796, and the circumference, at three feet from the surface of the ground, was 1 3 6 The same tree, measured close by the surface of the ground, was in circumference - 19 © THE SYCAMORE. A sycamore at Nisbet, in Berwickshire, stand- ing on the lawn behind the house, and from 60 to 70 feet in height, was measured in September 1795, and the gh-th found to be . - 12 3 A sycamore at Castlc-Campbcll, near Dollar, growing at the back of the Castle, measured, in March 1812, at breast high, in girth - 12 © There are other two sycamores on the same extremely exposed spot, but smaller than the one measured. These trees are remarkable for hav- ing lived many centuries, and until their neigh- bours, three ash trees of very considerable size, have died ; the sycamores arc still vigorous. Cj) Argylcb'ilie Report, p. 1 J 6. App. II.'] LIST OF REMARKABLE TREES. '^"Jt F, IN. A sj'camore at Lord Morton's, Aberdour, was measured on the 10th March 1812, and the bole was found to be 45 feet, and at breast-high •in girth »__ - - 14 6 Another, at the same place, has a bole of 50 feet in length, and is in girth, at sanje height 13 S Both these are very beautiful trees. A sycamore at Torwoodlee, in Selkirkshire, measures at the surface of the ground (26) 13 7 A sycamore at the house of Rosedoe, in Dum- bartonshire, measured, in 1795, at 30 inches a- bove the ground (27) - - - - 13 7 ' A sycamore in the garden at Castle^ jMenzies, in Perthshire, measured in circumference, in September 1778 168 An old sycamore tree at Ninewells, in Ber- wickshire, measured in girth, in 1795, a little below the boughs (28) - - - - 17 O A sycamore at Calder-hoiise, in Mid Lothian, standing by the road leading from the house to the church, measured, in October 1799 - 17 7 The Prior Letham PIcme, or sycamore, for- merly mentioned ia a note (p. 63), is of the striped-leaved variety, and measured, in girth, ' at the surface, in January 1 SI 1 - - 26 S THE CIIESNUT. A chesnut at Lord Murray's, in Fife, has 9 feet bole, and in girth measured, March 1812 11 3 A ' » 26) Selkirkshire Report, p. 285. 27) Sutistical Account, vol. XVII. p. 245. 28) Idem, vol. XIV. p. 46. 572 LIST OF REMARKABLE TREES. [/7/J/J. //. F. IN. A chesnut at Leslie House, in Fife, has a bole 06 feet in length, and was in girth at breast- high, ill March 1812 - - 8 6 A chesnut atNeubottle, in Mid Lothian, near the house, measured in girth, in Jul}- 1789 11 9 A chesnut at Inverary, in Argyleshire, which has a stem 18 feet in length, measured in girth, in 17^1« (29) 12 6 There is a chesnut tree in the old garden at Bahnerino, the bole of which measures - 15 0 At Fernie, in Fife, a little way south of the . house, there grows a chesnut tree in a deep hazely loam, which measured in girth, in Fe- bruary 1812 - - - - 11 0 BLACK rOPLAR. A fine tree of this kind at Alloa House, in Clackmananshire, measured in girth, at three or four feet high (30) - - 13 6 THE YEW. A yew tree in the garden at Broich, Stirling- shire, measured in circumference, at the height of two feet (31) - - - ' 10 0 A yew in the garden at Ormiston-hall, in East Lothian, measured in gii'th, in May 1762 10 3 A yew at Balikinrain, in IStirhngshire, mea- sured in girth, in 1791' (32) - - 10 2 A 29) Argj'leshire Report, p. 14G. 30) Statistical Account, vol. VIII. p. 594. 31) Idem, voL XV. p. 5i.'8, S-J) Idem, vol. XVL p. IIL App.II. LIST OF REMARKABLE TREES. ^J^ F. IN. A yew at tlie liouse of Rosedoe, in Dumbar- tonshire, measured in circumference, 18 inches above the ground, in 1795 (33) - - 12 6 A yew in the island of Inch-Lonach, in Loch- Lomond, measured, in August 1770 - 10 7 Another, the largest in the same island 13 0 The great yew at Fortingal, in Perthshire, measured by the Hon. Judge Harrington previ- ous to the year 1770, was in girth (34) - 52 0 THE HOLLY. At Lord Moray's, in Fifeshire, there is a liolly with a stem of 12 feet, and the trunk is in circumference, at three feet high - - 6 3 At Lord Morton's, Aberdour, there is a holly which measures in circumference, at the same licii^ht - - - - 5 0 No. oo) Statistical Account, vol, XVII. p. 245, 51) Pliilos. Trans. 1770, p. 57. 574 AMOUNT OF WASTE LANDS. [^Jj^P' HL N°- III. GENERAL VIEW of the AMOUNT of WASTE LANDS in SCOTLAND ; from the Report of the Committee of the Board of Af^riculture. Count!/. Slatcvient on luhat founded. Distinction of Lands. Nirniher of Acres. Aberdeen - CouutyRep. p. 127. Unimproved Lands 374,400 Argylc - - Gen. information VV/aste& Moun-7 I tainous Districts 3 785,753 A\T - - - Ditto - - :*.Ioi)rish Waste - 218,454 Banff - - Ditto - - Wastes and Hills - 290,000 Kerwick Coimty Rep. p. 10. Moor, Moss, &c. - 126,000 Bute and tl^e' Hebrides ; \ Caithness Hebi-idesRep.p.GO. Moors, Wastes, &c. 2,880,000 County Report Wastes and Commons 568,000 Clydesdale - Ditto, p. 17. - -Aloors, &c. - - 250,000 r' -ckmanan - Gen. information Wastes aiid Moors - 25,000 Dmnbaiton - Ditto - - \\\-»stes - - - - 164,266 Dumfries - Diito - - Wastes and Commons 200,000 Elgin - - - Ditto - - Ditto - - - 550,000 Fit^ - - - County Rep. p. 1. Hill, Moss, etc. - 64,000 Forfar - - i)itto, p. 1. - Wastes in Eng. acres 71,875 Inverness Gen. information 5-6tlis Waste - - 1,695,933 Kinross - - Ditto - - AVastes - - - - 25,000 Kirkcudbright Gallo\vay Rep. p. 1. ^dsWas^tcinEng.acr. Wastes ... - 30-6,734 East- Lothian Gen. information 55,000 West-ditto - County Rep. p. 5. Do. in Eng. acres - M,3.36 Mid-ditlo - Ditto, p. 7. - l-.~d Waste - - 7o,S00 Mearns - - Gen. information Wastes and Commons 164,266 Nairn - - Ditto - - Ditto - - - 10,000 Orkney - - Ditto - - Ditto - - - 700,000 PerUi - - - Ditto - - Nearly l-3d Vv'aste 1,521,600 Renfrew - - Ditto - - I -6th Ditto - - 24,553 II0SS& Cromarty Ditto - - 5-Cths Ditto - - 1,480,000 Roxburgh County Rep. p. 58. Heath .t Hill pasture 250,000 Selkirk - - Ditto, p. 15. - Do. in Eng. acres 145,000 Stirling - > Gen. information Wastes and Commons 120,000 Sutherland - Ditto - - 5-0"ths M'asto - - 1,232,000 'iVec.ldale - County Rep. p. 1. Wastes in Eng. acres 169,360 Wigton Galloway Rep. p. 1. :\Ioorlands ditto - 196,934 Total in Scotland - 14,218,224 App. IV.'] TABLE OF TREES IN AN ACRE. ^'] ^ N°- IV. TABLE, showing the NUMBER of TREES which may be planted on a Scots or an English Acre, from the Distance of 1 Foot to 20, at Inter rals of 6 Inch- es ; and from 20 Feet to 25, at Intervals of 1 Foot ; and from 25 to 50, at Intervals of 5 Feet. SCOTS ACRE. F.NGLI Sfi ACRE. Distance Nuviber in Distance I^mnbcr in in Feet. an Acre. in Feet. an Acre. F. IN. F. IN. 1 0 54,760 ' 1 0 45,560 1 6 24,537 1 6 19,360 2 0 15,690 2 0 10,890 2 6 8,761 2 6 6,969 5 0 6,084 3 0 4,840 5 6 4,470 5 6 Z,55o 4 0 ■3,422 4 0 2,122 4 6 2,704 4 6 2,150 5 0 2,190 5 0 1,742 5 6 1,810 5 6 1,440 6 0 1,521 6 0 1,210 6 6 1,296 6 6 1,050 7 0 1,117 7 0 888 7 6 973 ■ 7 6 774 8 0 855 8 0 CPO 8 6 757 J 8 6 602 9 0 676 J 9 0 537 9 6 606 to 9 6 482 10 0 547 10 0 435 10 6 496 o 10 6 595 11 0 452 "f 11 0 3G0 11 6 414 o 11 6 329 12 0 580 12 0 302 12 6 350 'Z 12 6 279 13 0 524 < 13 0 257 13 6 300 15 6 2.59 14 0 279 14 0 221 14 6 260 14 6 207 15 0 245 15 0 195 15 6 227 15 6 181 16 0 213 16 0 170 16 6 201 16 6 160 17 0 189 17 0 150 .17 6 178 17 6 142 18 0 169 IS 0 154 18 6 160 18 6 126 19 0 151 19 0 120 19 6 144 19 6 114 20 0 136 L 20 0 108 ^y6 TABLE OF TREES IN AN ACRE. [^App.IV.^V, SCOT S AC 0 44 , 40 0 54 45 0 27 1 50 0 21 r. NGLI Sll ACI Distance Kumher in in Feet. an Acre. r. IN. 21 0 98 22 0 90 23 0 82 24 0 75 25 0 69 30 0 48 35 0 35 40 0 27 45 0 21 50 0 17 No- V. AVERAGE PRICES of TIMBER and of OAK BAILK, at the Port of Leith, for several Years. Pkice of Timber per foot. 1799. 1809. Oak, English - - - AiUL-rican - - - Beech Ehn Ash Scots Fir, planted - - natural - - Fir, Norway (ih-um) coarse American Log - . - 2 10 0 0 2 0 2 O 2 2 0 0 0 o 0 o 0 o O 0 O 0 2 6 — o o — O O 0 0 O 0 Price of Oak Bark per ton. 1810. Best English Oak Bark ... Scots ditto - - - ... Danish - - - - 8 10 0 — 16 0 O 2 0 0 — 12 12 0 8 0 0 — 7 15 0 INDEX C 577 3 INDEX. Acornsi best seed gathered from tall healthy trees ^4>^ — sowing of in forests - - - 1 93 — gathering ... 505 j^bek, or Great White Poplar - - 100 Alder t the soils in which it flourishes, and Ih which it languishes ... 50 — roots useful in upholding the banks of rivers 51 — gathering and sowing seeds of the 497,519 — uses to which it is applied - - 73 — soil for planting out seedlings of - 283 — sowing of ... - 287 — preserving the seedlings from being thrown out by frost - - - ' 5m Arhor Vi r - . . . 34,2 Arbutus, or Strawberry tree - - - ib. ^sh, the soils in which it is found in high perfection 51 — situations for planting, uses of the timber - 77 •— reasons for giving it a place m Ornamental Plan- tations .... 74, — should not be planted in dairy counties — Note 75 -^ qualities of the timber . - > 76 — Keys, gathering and storing of - 496,519,535 — Mountain, or Roantree, soils in which it thrives 51 Aspen tree, or Trembling Poplar - - 100 B Bahn of Gilead Fir, soils fit for the - - 72 — gathering cones of - 505 Barberry Bush - - - - 215 Barking of Oak wood, implements for - 40S Bedford Willow, recommended - - 68 Beds, manner of forming ... 240 Beech, 578 INDEX. Beechy soils in which it is found in high perfection 52 — grows to a great size — Note • - ib. — where to plant; it^ appearance, and uses of the timber .... 78 — Masc, gathering and storing of - 498 — purple or copper, meth-^d uf propagating 79 Beeting up Plantations, when to perform it - 296 — — Larch ?nd Fir Plantations 297 — — improper to be left undone too long • -■ 298 Belts and clumps beneficial to the farmer and grazier 5 Birch, soils in which it grows - - 54? — natural soil does not require much manure 283 — uses to which the wood is applied in the High- lands of Scotland - - 80 — Bark of - - - 81 — Oil - - . - ib. — seeds, gathering of - - 466 — — required to be dried when gathered 467 — Weeping distinguished - - ib. — to preserve the seedlings from being thrown out by frost - ' - - 536 Birds, driving them away from destroying rising seeds 374 — watching of - - 418,426 Box Tree, for hedging . - - 341 Bra7iches should be lopped off the boles when alive 178 Building stone walls' with mortar of lime - 308 — proper stones for - - 312 C Carrots a scourging crop - - • 26 Cec/a?- of Lebanon, Ornamental • - 113 — cones, what length of time they may be kept before taking out the seeds - - 331 — how raised, when lifted, quality of soil required for planting in 325 Cedar, Red, or Virginian Juniper - - 342 Cherry, Wild, or Gean ; a forest tree - 54 — soils in which it thrives best - - ib. — proper situations for - - 82 — uses of the timber - - . 83 Chesnutf INDEX. 579 Page Chesnui, Spanish, general appearance of - 83 — fit places for planting in - ib. — thrives in many different soils 55 — uses of the timber . . 84, — gathering seeds of - 501 — the Horse, general appearance of - 85 — uses of the wood - ib. — gathering seeds of the common 502 Cleaning Ground in the Nursery 433, 451, 465, 476, 495 — — . rake as seldom as possible - 434- — hedges ... 460, 515 — copses - - - - 489 Clumps sometimes useful - - - 41 Cluster Pine. See Pinaster. Cones, Fir, gathering - - - 137 — how to try if good - - - ib. — how to treat them after being gathered ib. — kinds which require fire heat to give out the seeds ... - 329 — — which give out their seeds with little trouble - - 3S0 Coping o£ wzWs - - - 313 Copse, a natural, in appearance does not differ from a wood ... 47 — is never allowed to grow to a great age ib. — purposes for which they are planted - 48 — extent and situation of - - ib. — Mixed, preparation of tlie soil for - .-193 — cleaning of weeds - - 459 — forming, by sowing seeds - 194 — kinds of trees to be adapted to the soil— 1 95, 1 98 — planting - - - 273 — kinds, thebarkofwhichismostusefulfortan 199 — cleaning chips from - - - 410 — sowing out with grass seeds - 411 Crops fit for preceding Tree Seeds in the Nursery 15 Cropping with vegetables among Forest Plantations 382 Cuffing, manner of performing - - 239 Cutting old Hedges - - - 212 — nature of - 214 Cuttings, propagating plants by - - - 250 — the speediest way of propagating Elders ib. — wideness to plant Elder - . ib. O 2 Ctdtings, 580 INDEX. Pag., Cullinc!:.^ making of - - - SOS Caress, Evergreen - • 3i2 , D Dalkeith Plough, trenching ground by - 141 Deciduous Trees, a list of the common kinds - 70 Diagram, for sowing Oak Copses - - 305 Dibble, Diamond-pointed, described - - 351 Dibbling seedlings - - - 231 — manner of performitig the work - 253 Digging and trenching vacant ground — Nursery 130, 508 — ground, reason for - - - 131 — between the lines in the Nursery - 131, 523 — — — — when to be performed 253 — for Ornamental Plantations - 111 — young Forest Plantations - - 530 Dikes, Top - - - 209 — Sir George Suttie's style - ib. — time for building ... ib. — materials for making - - 210 — building with mortar of clay - - 314 — Galloway - - - - 218 — — sandstone proper for constructing ib. — — chief art of building - 219 — Drystone .... ib. Ditches, general rule for the depth of - 209 — cleaning out the obstructing snow at the time of a thaw - - - 54'1 Ditching, method of - - 203, 206—208 Drains, Sky, best for Plantations- - 139, 398 — Mortar, manner of making - ib. — Rubble, unfit for Plantations - 393 — Open, necessary in narrow stripes - 381 Draining ground for intended Plantations - 427 E Elder Berries, gathering of - - 502 — propagation of by cuttings - ib. Elm, Scots, grows to perfection in many soils and situ- ations - - - - - 56 — English, distinction between - 87 Elpti "IKDEX. - •'>^i I'age Bbn, English, uses to which the timber Is applicable »8 — Scots, seeds, gathering - - 420, 4-21. — — sowing - - ' ^•^'' to be gathered from handsome healthy trees 4-21 — spread thin when gathered - 422 'Evelyn' % wtI tings, good effects produced by - 12 Evergreen trees, list of common Finds - 71 -when xo plant In dry situations ^ 266 lifting from the Nursery - 337, 437 puddling the roots of -_ 338 planting in Ornamental Plantations 3il _ kinds and sizes to be lifted in April lb. improper to be planted out - 31-2 preparing large plants in the Nursery 372 planting in the Forest - 3S2 Nurses," planting among Oak Woods and Copses - - 400 for single Ornamental Plants, pruning of - . - 436 laying of in the Nursery - 451 cuttings, making and laying - 453 — Hedges complete4 •• - 491 r /"fj/Zotr, grounds under, how to be treated - 477,511 Felling timber about a place - - oOd, 512 1- old trees - - 484 i^enci«^ grounds in general - - .202 Fences of the Nursery - - 1 30 Hawthorn, best deciduous kind - 203 Evergreen ; the Holly the best - ib. — Evergreen, - - - ^ 360 Deciduous kinds, making - 275, 515 — planting various sorts - - 308 Ditches, wltii whins sown on tlie top - 316 _ Sunk, dtsciibed - - 214 , Common, rule for making of - 217 ^ thickness of rh? walls - 218 proper time to build tlie walls of • 278 large stones to be used in building the walls of 41 3 making several kinds of - 447,532 i^7k;^Nut ^ - - . - 229 Firs 582 INDEX. Page Firs and Evergreens, planting In the nursery - 319 — Scots, laying cut in the nursery - - 320 — — should never be planted out in poor land 321 — Spruce, proper soil for laying out in - 322 — Silver, age of seedlings for laying out at - ib. — Balm of Gilead, of laying out - - 323 — white American Spruce, age for laying out 324- — black American Spruce, age of seedlings - 325 — and Larches, sowing forests of - - 345 Flowrri>2g ash - - - - 15 Forest Plantations - - - ' - 295 — planting ... 342 Forests. Royal, ratlier neglected by government - 13 Fourth Jigure trap described - - - 247 Furze, or Whins, for hedges - - 258 G Galloxvay dikes - - - - 218 Gean trees to be pruned in August and October 268 — gathering seeds of the - - 468 Green crops, preparing the ground among late sown copses for - - - 307 — — management of, among ornamental plan- tations - - 437 Ground vacant, in the nursery, preparing for crops 289,373 — preparing for ornamental planting - 381 — — for forest plantation - - 383 — — by pitting for principals and nurses 387 — — by fallowing - - ib. — — for woods and copses - 395 Groves, situations fit for planting - - 40 — fir - . - - 261 — effects produced by - - 259 Grox^e, extent of . . _ 259 . — trees, tall, straight - - - ib. — a, may be a mixture of trees like ordinary mix- ed plantations - - - 261 Croups of trees, feelings produced by - 278 — — should be wild and irregular - ib. Grubs, destructive to young larches - 453, 454 H Hares and Rabbits hurtful to nursery articles - 23 Hauiihorn^ INDEX. 583 Page Hatuthorny fit situations for single plants of the - 89 — soils fit for — Note - - 71 — uses to which the timber is applicable ib, — trees, time for procuring them in hedges 213 — gathering seeds of, and storing them in the rotheap - - - 503 Hazelnut tree - - - 229, 245 Hedges, dead ... . 209 — method of forming - - 211 — aquatic, useful for dividing moist grounds 275 — — proper kinds for making - -276 — — preparing ground for, and planting by cuttings - - 277 — — age of the wood fit for making cuttings ib. — H0II7 - - . -360 — — proper age of plants, and method of plant- ing . - - 361 — of Yew, method of planting - - 362 — of Evergreen Privet, methods of planting ib. — screen of common Laurel - - 362 — — of Spruce Fir - - - 364 — Evergreen, directions for planting 412, 446 — cleaning - - 413,430,446,447,490 -r- Whin, cleaning - - - 414< — Evergreen, directions for managing 445, 446 — switching and clipping - 460, 490, 515 — the tops should not be cut till as high as re- quired - - - 461 ffedge-roto trees, distances for planting - 145 — — pruning of - - - 1 52 < — — should be allowed to express their own character - - 153 — — proper kinds for - - 265 — - — new planted, examined to see if wind- waved - . - 423 ffemlock Spruce - - - - 341 Highland Oak-woods might be made to produce a sup- ply of ship timber ... 4 Hoe, West Indian, recommended - 340 ^oei«o-, advantages to be gained by - 339,417 — deep, recommended . . . 340 — and cleaning - =■ - 375 584« INDEX. Page UoUyy soils fit for - - - 72 — highly ornamental - - 114« — situations proper for - - - ib. — timber, valuable - - - 115 — length of time in the seed bed - - 326 — soil proper for planting out seedlings in - ib. — improper to expose the roots of the - 361 ^— planting out two-year seedlings in beds - 452 — berries, gathering and storing of - 500, 519 Hornbeam, soils in which it thrives best - 57 — general appearance - - 90 — sitiiations for planting - - ib. — uses of the timber - . lb. — gathering the seeds of - - 501 Horse chesnut. See C/ie-snut. Huntingdon Willow - - - - lOi K Kitchen garden a tit place for raising seedling treqs 26 I. Laburnum, soils where it grows best - - 57 — planted for ornament - - 91 — — also for timber - - ib. — timber valuable ... ib. — gathering and storing the seeds of — 499, 519, 535 Larch, when introduced into this country - 58 — proper situations for planting for ornament 93 — will soon arrive to a large size, preferable to Scots fir - - - 94 . — usefulness and durability of the timber of the ib. — yields turpentine _ - - 95 — Bark incorruptible, and a good tan - ib., 199 — requires to be early planted - - 266 — small plants recommended - - ib. — and Fir, seeds taken out by fire heat - 327 Z,«'"cAco««, gathering of, - - 519,535 — how to treat them when gathered - ib. — form of the kihi for drying them on 327 ,^ — sphtting to take out the seeds - 328 — Ti'ill for grinding, &c. - - 329 — of Larches and Firs sometimes selected for U-adcrs - - - 297 Larch'* IKDEX. 585 Page Larch-cones may be sown among young plantations 423 Laurel, Common, makes good hedges - 363 — Portugal - - - ib. Laurustiiius . _ - 378 Laying young plants in the nursery - 230, 525 — — manner of performing the work 232, 233 Lettuces an easy and enriching crop - 26 Lifting plants for planting out - - 134, 230 Lii^is tree, soils fit for - - - 71 — its appearance - . - 95 — where it should be placed - ib. — uses to which the timber is applicable 96 — layers, to be planted out - - 253 — gathering seeds of - - 504 — sowing of seeds of - - ib. — taking off the layers from stools - 505 — laying down - - - 506 — plants best adapted for converting into stools 507 j^pmbardy poplar - - . 100 M Manure, rank, unfit for nurseries . . 25 — in compost, for nurseries - - ib. Massing forests recommended - - 30, 158 — of Firs recommended - - 163 ^o^/or^-, hand, 192. Uses of - . 392 Melville's, Lord, letter to Mr Perceval, on naval timber 7 jlTice, how to destroy in the nursery - 337 Mortar, of lime, preparing for building walls with 310 — — quality of sand requisite for making ib. — — quantity of sand required for - 311 Mountain-ash, gathering and storing the berries of 497 Mousetrap, nurseryman's; described - - 247 N Naval sUTieriority, every thing depends upon maintain- ing our - - - - IS — strength depends on economising the present stock of oak timber - - - 15,16 Navy, increase of, fdrbids to slacken the planting of timber - . . 6 — advice to supply timber for the future wants of . the . - . - 15 A'wr^e plants, kinds of % - - 160 Nurses 586 INDEX. Page Nurses, numbers required - - - 31 — for bleak situations exposed to the sea breeze 38 Nurseries, private, remarkis on this subject, offered to those who wish to establish - 20 — public, that are partly used as kitchen gardens, produce the best seedling trees - 26 — small, may be toomuch sheltered - 22 Nursery to raise plants from seeds not adviseable in high, cold, and bleak situations - 21 — plants, chief properties of - ib, — aspect and acchvity necessary for - 22 — ground not to be encumbered with large trees, or fruit trees, in the quarters - 23 — should be completely drained - ib. — advantages of a rill passing through - 24- — should be well sheltered with dividing hedges 27 — laying out a new - - 127 — laying out of seedlings in the - 281 — plants, destructive consequences of not shoughing - - - 282 — planting out deciduous seedlings in the 319 — planting out evergreens in the - 369 Nurseryman, season requiring all the vigilance of the 223 O OaJc - . . _ 96 — a native both of Scotland and England - 60 — soon dies in very wet soil - - 61 — account of large trees of - - - 62 ■ — ornamental in the highest degree - 97 — situations for - - - ib. — poor, bleak situations unfit for - 48 • — rises fast in good soil - - 46 — new-sown in pits to be relieved from encroaching weeds .... 425, 428 — Timber consumed in country purposes - 9 — demands for Ujc middling size tends to diminish the increase of large ship timber 10 — annual consumption of . 10, 11 «— danger of a scarcity of - 12 — • Wood, proper situation for an - - 47 — preparing the ground for - 188,429 — depth of soil fit for - - ib. Oak INDEX. 58T Page ^ak Wood, cropping the ground with vegetables among 1 89 — draining for - - 190 — pitting for - - - 191 — planting nurses to prepare for establishing 1 92 — converting a copse into - 403 — balking of - - 406, 428 — Bark, horses for drying - - 407 — gentle showers a benefit to - - 408 — preserving the colour of importance ib. — stacking of - - - 409 — prices of at Leith in different years (App.) 576 — Stools, singling the shoots on - - 400 — number of shoots to be left upon - 402 — instruments for slipping off the redundant shoots - - - 401 — Old, taking down among young wavers - 405 — Trees, time required to grow to a size fit for the Navy - - - - 12 Ornamental Plantations, cleaning of - 455 Osier Plantations, formation and management of 545 Osiers, list and description of the best for the cooper and basket-maker - - - 557 P Paling Rails - - - .209 — kinds and position - - 21 1 Paring and burning - - 384, 426, 429 Pinaster, soils fit for - - - 72 — thrives well on the west coast of Scotland 110 — fit for nurses ... ib. — .time in the seed-bed - - . 321 — laying out in the Nursery - - ib. Pine, Scots. See Fir. — Weymouth. See Weymouth. — Stone, Siberian - - 324, 335 Pits, making for hedge-row trees - 143,263 — depth to be made ... 391 — distance to be made at - - - 388 — new-sown, to be kept clean of weeds - 348 Pitting, how to perform, according to the nature of the soil ----- 39S — ground for the principals only - 392 _ — for sowing acorns among new planted nurses - - . 391. Pitting, S88 INDKX. Page Pining ground for sov/ing forests of Firs - 395 ' — — for sowing forests in general - 396 — — advantages of retaining part of the brush-wood on the ground for shelter 397 — — direct$, 539 — Screen, kinds fit for - - 257 — — kinds of underwood fit for 268 Plants, the proper sizes for planting out 31, 134, 156, 15T, 200, 262 — taking up in the Nursery for planting out 134<, 135, 520 — arrangement of the kinds - 158 Planiipg thin, on exposed situations, discommended 31 — thick, — advised - 29 — thin, and with large plants, the cause of fail- ure on the exposed shores cf the ocean 35 — Ornamental Plantations - 1 4-5, 526 — when the land is in an improper state, hurtful ib,. — fit time for - 155, o'l^i, 528, 537 — distances for - - - IGO, 161 — manual operation cf - 161' — by the T method • - 167 Planting " INDEX, 539* Tag* Pk)ifi)!g by tlie T, most proper time for performing 109 — Forest Trees in masses - 265 — kinds of trees requiring to be planted in Feb. ib. — proper kinds q£ trees for particular situations 267 — underwood necessary in narrow stripes 268 — Seedling Alders and Birches in the Nursery 282 — when the land is either too wet or too dry, hurtful .... 29.> — vacant spaces among old Plantations 298' — bare sandy moors ... 349 — cheap method of - - 350 — advantages to be derived from - 351 — manner of with the diamond dibble described ib- — ground covered with long heath - 352 — expense of - - - - 355 — profits to be gained by - - iK — expense of a Scots acre - ib. — — of an English acre - 354? — land c{ good quality profitable - 356 — Ornamental Plantations - - 377 — general directions respecting Ornamental ib. — Evergreens, damp weather most proper 382 — — and Firs in prepared Ornamental Plantations - 455 —r- ■— in Forest Plantations - 457 P/fl5^i??^ old Hedges - - - 212,515 — manner of - - - - ib. — another method - - 213 — can only be well done where there are plenty of young shoots - - - 21 4< Poplar, different species of - - S>'J — appearance when planted in groups - 10i> — qualities of the timber . - ib. — Black, bark of,, is a good tan - . ib. propagated generally l>y cuttings 'ACti — how to make cuttings of - - ib. — how tliick to plant cuttings in the Nursery ib. Potatoes, an unfit crop for preceding a crop of Seed- ling trees - - - - 25 Prey^an//^ ground by the mattock - 169 — for future Plantations 440, 476, 509, 525, 52J^ Hedge-row and Ornamental Deci- duous trees - 523, 537 Privet, Evergreen, for hedges. - - S19 599 ISDEX. n . , '*«" Jfrumng trees in a clump - - - 42 — plants in the Nursery lines 131, 435, 451 — by pinching off the weakest 132, 435, 436 — plants in the hand - . 135, 521 — Ornamental Plantations 146, 470, 471, 525, 537 — Groves of Deciduous Trees - - ib. — when to commence - - 147 — time improper for performing the operation of 286 — manner of performing the operation of 147 — to be gentle on the skirts of a grove - 143 — Larch and Fir Groves, when to commence the pruning of - - 149, 180 — masses - - . ISO — belts and stripes - - - ib. — Screen Plantations - - 151 — Hedge-row and detached trees 153, 154, 470 — groups - - - 154 — Forest Plantations 170,368,457,511,529 — importance of - - . jb. ' — annual, recommen(}ed ... 170 — bad method described - - 172 — right meth6d set forth - - 1 75 — of deciduous trees, to be begun at the top 176 — implements to be used in the operation of 178 — in, no protuberances or pieces of stumps to be left .... 17() — of Coppice Woods 200,273,459,489,513,531,540 — Deciduous trees in the Nursery - 253 — Larches and Firs, few branches to be removed at once . . 438, 442 — in, no large branches should be required to be removed ... 4.39 — narrow stripes, attention required in - 441 — young neglected Plantations - 480 Ag?^//^ for building Tin f Dikes - - 31 S Quicks. See Harvthorn. Qidc/cefi Tree. See Moimtain-Ask. R Reclaiming neglected Hedge-row trees - 472 — Plantations from 20 to 40 years of age - 481 — — from 50 to 60 years of age - 483 INDEX. 591 Page Relievins last spring planted trees In the forest - 4.58 Roller armed, for relievinj^ incrusted brienng seeds^ J71 Rot heap, how to treat seeds in the - SSi, 535 Rotting, interior, of timber incurable " ^^f Roots of trees to be carefully preserved when taken up l^b — some of the, to be reduced - ib- — retrenching makes the plants less healthy 422 of trees, felled in a thick plantation, not to be stubbed up - - ^•SS Rhododendron, Ornamental - - S42, 378 Ridging up ground - - - IZJ Roan Tree. See Mountain-Ash. S Salloiiu round-leaved - - 103, 106 Scots Fir does not thrive in wet, tiUy soil - o* — varieties of— AVe - - , . ?*' o5 — plantations of, not soon injured by bemg thick 48 ^ — gathering of cones of - " 535 Screen Plantations - - * ^^^ Seeds, relieving incrusted briering ^ - 370, 419 new-sown kinds a prey to vermin ^ - 247 protecting from mice - 337 ^ watering vegetating seeds in the Nursery 419 — time to gather many kinds of - 496 Seedlinps, best preparation for a crop of - 129 _ lifting from the seed-bed - 223, 321 Thorns or quicks ib. _ _ Elms - 225 _ _ Larches - 226 ' — Beeches and Alder, thinning out - 227 -^ one-year Mountain- Ash, thinning out 228 _^ Beeches, Laburnum, Sycamore, and Oak - - ib, taking up of two-year old - 229 Service Tree, Wild - - " ?H? SAa/tes in timber curable with difficulty - 4/5 Shoughing one-year seedlings - - 224 — two year ditto - - - ^-^ seedlings brought from a distant nursery 136, 137 Silver, Fir grows to a great size - - 65 — gathering cones of - _ - - 505 Situations for making private Nurseries - 19 _ favourable for Forest Plantations - 32, 34 — for Woods and Copses - - "^^ £92 INDF.x. Slittnig ill plants - - j 163 Slneihorn ..... 397 Soils fit and unfit for a Nursery - - 22 — opinion of some respecting - - 20 — bare of herbage, easy method of planting - 32 — unfavourable for producing different sorts of forest trees ... 49 — favourable for — — 50 SotuiTig woods, Forest and Copses preferred - 46, 163 — seeds in the Nursery - - 239 — Haws .... ib. — in broad drills - . - 241 — Ash - - . - - 242 — Hollies . _ - , ib. — Mountain Ash - - 243 — Yews - - - ib. — Acorns ' - - - < - 244 — Spanish and Horse Chesnuts - 245 — Hazel Nuts . - - - ib. -— Geans .... 245, 469 — Hornbeam - - - . 246 — Walnuts .... ib. — Elder berries - - . - 251 — seeds in the Nursery 283, 327, 396, 46G, 520 — Elms, ground fit for - - 284 — Laburnums, soil fit for - . 285 — Sycamore, soil fit for - - 286 — Birch and Alder, preparation of the ground for 287 — Beech, preparation of die ground for - 288 — Cedar of Lebanon - - - 331 — Scots Fir ... . 332 — Spruce Fir - - - 333 — Balm of Gilead Fir * - - 33i — Silver Fir .... ib. — Weymouth Pine ... ib. Solving Pinaster .... 335 — Stone Pine ... ib, — White American Fir - - - ib. — Black and Red American Spruce Fir - 336 — Forests in general ... 347 — of many kinds necessarily - - 384 — all sorts of seeds in the rot-heap - 465, 495 Spruce Fir, Norway, thrives in many soils - 66 — — best in deep loams - 67 — American, soils fit for - - 72 INDEX. 393 Page Stone Pine, Siberian, time in the seed-bed - 324 Stripes for sheltering intended Forest Plantations - 29 — narrow, unfit to be planted on grounds exposed to the blast from the ocean - - 39 ■ — old, bad effects of damp in - - 381 — narrow, management of - - 442 Siveet Brier - - - - - 215 Sycamore, or Plane . - - . 62 — soils fit for • - ib. — remarkable trees of — Note - 63 — general appearance of - 101 — variegated, a beautiful variety, and never becomes impatient of an exposed situation - 102 gathering the seeds of - 468 T jTfl/i/^ino' roots of trees - - - 133 Thinning oul Plantations 180, 269, 294, 300, 440, 443 457, 511 — - — aprincipalpartofthelrculture 180 — — liable to restrictions - 181 — mixed Plantations - - 182 — grouped — - - - 184 — Fir — - - 185 — Scots Fir - - - ib. — Spruce - - - - 187 — Larch . . . . ib. — out patches of sown Copses - 348 — Oak Woods - - 274, 398 — Ornamental Plantations - 470, 509 — young neglected Plantations, directions how to perform - • 478 — old neglected Plantationswith greatcautlon 488 Thorn plants, good ones described - - 204 — young plants best - - 205 — cutting over ... 206 — roots to be preserved in lifting - ib. — laying on the new formed ditch - 208 — lifting of, suspended - - - 275 Timber, none should be imported but from cur OAvn colonies - - - - 6 — trade with America and the West Indies, to be encouraged - - - 15 PP SD-i INDEX. Tag* Timber J raising in Britain, opinions of some respecting, considered - - - 16 — planted, contrasted with sown - 4'4t — its high importance to this kingdom - 119 advantage derived by subdividing ground with 120 — no ground lost by planting belts of - 121 — increase of the value of ground by planting 122 — prices of. at Leith, in different years ( App.) 576 Ti-ee, a properly raised, resembles a slender cone 238' Trees have their roots reduced by being removed 45 — cause of the want of success in lifting large 46 — lifting for the forest - - . 230' — preparing for Hedge-rows - - - 236 J— distance at which they should be planted 238 — how planted - - - - 261 — kinds for Ornamental Plantation - 262 — kinds to be cut in February for the bark - 269 — heading of - - - - 299 — list of some remarkable ones in Scotland (App.) 563 — number which may be planted on a Scots and an English acre at certain distances (App.) 575 Trenchhg ground in the Nursery - 127, 522 — depth necessary - 128, 140 — for Ornamental Plantation - 527 U Upland WiWovJ - - - - 1@3 Vermin, destroying ..... 289' Vegetable crops, preparing the ground for - 338 — among new- sown woods - 409 W Walnut claims the attention of the Planter - 67 — situation for - - . 102 jra&, building of Turf - - - 314 — of all kinds - - 364 Waste land for planting, a sufficiency in the British Isles 7 — quantity in Great Britain and Ireland fit for raising timber 16 (App.) 574 Wei/nwuth Pine, soils fit for - - 72 — elegant ornamental tree - 112 — delicate habit not fit for exposed situa- tions - . . 113 — time in the seed-bed - - 315 — gathering cones of . 505 IXDEl. .595 IVeedsy removing of - * - 253 — dLS-.royir.g of . - - 290, 339 — xranagemcnt of In the heap - - 434? Weeding seed-beds, neces'.iiy of early 370, 4-17 Weepwg :\ sh - ' - - - 263 — Birch recommended - • 54, SO Willoxos, kinds for trees - - C8, lO'i' — situ aiicms fit for - - 69,105 propagation by cuttings - - 252 for hoops and basket-work - - 557 JFAi^???^ of plants hurtful - 182,184,186 fV/ii/is, for hedges .... 258 Wounds and bruises, how to treat - 473, 474 IVoods, natural, how produced - - 43 — rearing of, example afforded by nature - 44< — and Copses, preparing ground for 188, 271, 301 — -— sowing ot, reasons for deferring till now - - . -302 -^ — easy method of sowing - 303 — — planting nurses when tliese are in- tended to be sown - 272, 358 — — sowing of . - - 357 — — planting vegetable crops among it ib. — — grain not to be sotvn among - 359 — •^— keeping tliem clean - 428, 444 — — ploughing ground among - 513 — — keeping them dry - 531, 540 Yetus, soils fit for - - - - 72 — timber of, valuable - - - 117 — seedlings, time to remain in the seed-bed 326 — plants