with Potatoes, Cabbages, Turnips, &c. until fuch time as the plants be ftout enough to defend themfelves; the face of the Hedge being guarded with thorns placed in the ditch.

WOOD

WOODLANDS;

O R,

USEFUL PLANTATIONS.

A

LTHOUGH it may be a difficult task to' distinguish nicely between useful and ornamental plantations*, yet the distinction between a rough coppice in a reclufe corner of a farm, and a flowering fhrubbery under the windows of a manfion, is obvious: the one we view as an object of pleasure and amufement, whilft the other is looked upon in the light of profit only. Upon these premises we ground our diftinction. Under the prefent head we purpose to speak of plantations whofe leading features are of the more useful kind, and whose principal end is profit; referving those whose distinguishing characteristics are ornamental, and whofe primary object is pleasure, for the article GROUNDS.

Perhaps, it will be expected, that before we begin to treat of the propagation of TIMBER, we should previously prove an approach

See page 445.

ing fcarcity of that neceffary article in this country for it may be argued, that every acre of land applied to the purposes of planting is loft to thofe of agriculture; and as far as culturable land goes, the argument is juft. To fpeak of this fubject generally as to the whole kingdom, and at the fame time precisely, is perhaps what no man is prepared for.

From an extensive knowledge of the different parts of the kingdom, we believe that the nation has not yet experienced any real want of timber. We are happy to find that in many parts of it there are great quantities now ftanding; whilft in many other parts we are forry to fee an almost total nakedness. With respect to large well-grown OAK TIMBER, fuch as is fit for the purposes of SHIP-BUILDING, we believe there is a growing fcarcity throughout the whole kingdom.

We will explain ourfelves, by fpeaking particularly as to one diftrict the Vale of Derwent, in Yorkshire. This diftrict for ages paft has fupplied in a great meafure the ports of Whitby and Scarborough with fhip-timber. At prefent, notwithftanding the extenfive tracts of Woodlands. ftill remaining, there is fcarcely a tree left ftanding with a load of timber in it. Befides, the woods which now exift have principally been raised from the ftools of timber-trees formerly taken down; the faplings from which being numerous, they have drawn each other up flender, in the grove manner;

and confequently never will be fuitable to the more valuable purposes of the fhip-builder.

When we confider the prodigious quantity of timber which is confumed in the conftruction of a large veffel, we feel a concern for the probable fituation of this country at fome future period. A seventy-four gun fhip (we speak from good authority) fwallows up nearly, or full, three thousand loads of Oak timber. A load of timber is fifty cubical feet; a ton, forty feet; confequently, a feventyfour gun fhip takes 2,000 large well-grown timber-trees; namely, trees of nearly two tons each!

The distance recommended by authors for planting trees in a Wood (a fubject we shall speak to particularly in the course of this chapter) in which Underwood is alfo propagated, is thirty feet or upwards. Suppofing trees to ftand at two rods (33 feet, the diftance we recommend they should ftand at in fuch a plantation), each ftatute acre would contain 40 trees; confequently the building of a feventy-four gun fhip would clear, of fuch Woodland, the timber of 50 acres. Even fuppofing the trees to ftand at one rod apart (a short distance for trees of the magnitude abovementioned), fhe would clear twelve acres and an half; no inconfiderable plot of Woodland. When we confider the number of king's fhips that have been built during the late unfortunate war; and the Eaft Indiamen, merchants fhips, colliers, and fmall craft, that are launched daily in the different ports of the kingdom, we are ready to tremble for the confequences. Nevertheless, there are men who

treat the idea of an approaching scarcity as being chimerical; and, at prefent, we will hope that they have fome foundation for their opinion, and that the day of want is not near. At fome future opportunity we may endeavour to reduce to a degree of certainty, what at prefent is, in fome meafure, conjectural. The prefent ftate of this ifland with refpect to ship-timber is, to the community, a fubject of the very first importance.

However, in a work like the prefent, addreffed to individuals rather than to the nation at large, a true eftimate of the general plenty or fcarcity of timber is only important, as being instrumental in afcertaining the local plenty or fcarcity which is likely to take place in the particular neighbourhood of the planter. This may be called a new doctrine in a Treatife upon Planting. It is fo, we believe, and we wish to have it understood, that we addrefs ourselves to the private intereft, rather than to the public fpirit, of our readers; and we appeal to every man who has had extenfive dealings with mankind for the propriety of our conduct.

We are well aware that, fituated as this coun try appears to us to be at prefent, Planting ranks among the firft of public virtues; nevertheless, we rather wish to hold out that lasting fame which always falls to the fhare of the fuccefsful planter, and thofe pecuniary advantages which muft ever refult from plantations judicioufly fet about, and attentively executed, as being motives of a more practical nature.

We