Page images
PDF
EPUB

THERE is another general rule, with regard to pruning trees. The bough should be taken off, either by the upward stroke of a sharp instrument (and, generally speaking, at one blow), or with a saw : in the latter case, it should previously be notched, on the under side, to prevent its splitting off, in the fall. If the bough to be taken off be heavy, the safest way is, first to cut it off, a few inches from the stem, with an axe, and then to clear away the stump, close and level, with a saw; doing away the roughnesses, left by the teeth of the saw, with a plane, or with a broad-mouthed chissel, or an axe; in order to prevent the wet from hanging in the wound. A saw, for this purpose, should be set should be set very wide; otherwise, it will not make its way through green wood.

THE fittest opportunity for pruning and setting up young timbers, as well as for taking down Pollards and dotard timbers, and clearing away other encumbrances, is when the hedge itself is felled; and it were well for landed individuals as for the Nation at large) if no Hedge was suf fered to be cut down, without the whole business of the Hedgerow being, at the same time, properly

executed.

FOR farther Information respecting HEDGES and HEDGEROW TIMBER, see the RURAL ECONOMY OF YORKSHIRE, Vol. I. p. 201.

ALSO the RURAL ECONOMY of the MIDLAND COUNTIES, Vol. I. pages 83 to 95, and the M1NUTES thence referred to.

For general remarks on training up Hedgerow Timber, and the management of Oakland Hedgerows, see WEST OF ENGLAND: District the sixth: Sect: improvement of WEST DORSETSHIRE, &c.

DIVISION THE FOURTH.

WOODLANDS; OR, USEFUL

PLANTATIONS.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

ALTHOUGH it may be difficult to distinguish, precisely, between useful and ornamental plantations, yet the distinction between a rough coppice, in a recluse corner of an estate, and a flowering shrubery, under the windows of a mansion, is obvious: the one we view as an object of pleasure and amusement, while the other is looked upon in the light of profit, only. Upon these premises we ground our distinction. Under the present head, we purpose to speak of plantations, whose leading features are of the more useful kind, and whose principal end is profit; reserv ing those, whose distinguishing characteristic is

ornament, and whose primary object is pleasure, for the SECOND PART of this VOLUME.

PERHAPS, it will be expected, that, before we begin to treat of the propagation of TIMBER, We should previously prove an approaching SCARCITY of that necessary article in this country: for it may be argued, that every acre of land applied to the purposes of planting, is lost to those of agriculture; and, as far as culturable land goes, the argument is just. To speak of this subject, generally, as to the whole kingdom, and at the same 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 standing; while, in many other parts, we are sorry to see an almost total nakedness. With respect to large well grown OAK TIMBER, such as is fit for the puposes of SHIP BUILDING, we believe there is a growing scarcity, throughout the kingdom.

We will explain ourselves, by speaking particularly as to one district-the VALE OF PICKERING, in Yorkshire. This district, for ages past, has

supplied, in a great measure, the ports of Whitby and Scarborough with ship timber. At present, notwithstanding the extensive tracts of Woodlands still remaining, there is scarcely a tree left standing with a load of timber in it. Besides, the woods which now exist, have principally been raised from the stools of timber trees, formerly taken down; the saplings from which being numerous, they have drawn each other up slender, in the grove manner; and, consequently, never will be suitable to the more valuable purposes of the ship builder.

WHEN We consider the prodigious quantity of timber which is consumed in the construction of a large vessel, we feel a concern for the probable situation of this country, at some future period. A SEVENTY-FOUR GUN SHIP (we speak from good authority) swallows up three thousand loads of Oak timber. A load of timber is fifty cubical feet; a ton, forty feet; consequently, a seventyfour gun ship 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 subject we shall speak to particularly in the course of this chapter) in which Underwood is also propagated, is thirty feet or upwards. Supposing trees to stand at two

« PreviousContinue »