incumbrance, but as affording useful materials. Population still increasing, the forest breaks into woods. Commerce and luxury advancing, the canoe becomes a ship, and the hut a mansion: at length even the woods dwindle away, and plantations or an import of foreign timber, become necessary to supply the want.

ENGLAND has experienced, more or less, every stage of this decline. Its present state, in respect to timber, we conceive to be this: A few broken forests, and many extensive woodlands, still remaining; a great number of plantations of different growths, and a vast supply of foreign timber of various kinds. Indeed, we are of opinion, that had it not been for this foreign supply, scarcely a timber tree, at this day, would have been left standing upon the island.

OUR existence, as a nation, depends upon a full and certain supply of shipping; and this, we may venture to say, upon an internal supply of ship timber. That there is no want of oak timber, at present, in this island, is, we believe, a fact; but that the article of ship timber is growing scarce, as we shall explain more fully in its proper place, is, we believe, also a fact which cannot be controverted. This is an important matter, which demands the first attention of Government, and is

not unworthy the notice of every landed indi

vidual.

MANKIND, however, do not view the face of nature in the light of selfpreservation only; the great Author of creation has wonderfully adapted our senses to the enjoyment of its delights; the eye is gratified by tints of verdure, and the ear by the music of the woods and the mellowness of echo-and both by the voice and majesty of a forest, roused by the breath of Nature. Our plan therefore, has two objects, UTILITY and ORNAMENT; they are nearly allied, however, as exercise and recreation, or as the use and the ornament of dress.

NEVERTHELESS, to treat of them with greater advantage, it will be proper to consider them separately, as two distinct subjects.

SUBJECT THE FIRST.

PLANTING.

DIVISION THE FIRST.

MANUAL OPERATIONS.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

BEFORE we attempt to give directions for cultivating WOODLANDS, or raising ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS, it will be proper to give a comprehensive view of the MANUAL OPERATIONS incident to

the spade, we beg leave to caution him, in the

strongest terms, against a WANT OF SPIRIT in

Planting. A slovenly planter ranks among the most extravagant order of slovens: the labour, the plants, and the ground are thrown away; besides the consequent disgrace, not only to the individual, but to the Art itself. As and

interested as we are in the cause of planting, we would rather want pupils, than have them pass through our hands unfinished. We therefore reject all such as have not industry, spirit, and perseverance, to go through with what they undertake; and we recommended to such as are possessed of these valuable qualifications, to begin upon a small scale, and to let their seminaries, their nurseries, and their plantations, increase with their experience.

WHILE, however, we caution our readers against entering, immaturely, upon the business of planting, we cannot refrain from mentioning the PLEASURES which result from it. How rational, and to a contemplative mind how delightful, to observe the operations of Nature ;-to trace her in every stage, from the seed to the perfected plant; and, from beneath the leaf stalk of this, through the flower bud, the flower, and the seed vessel, to the seed again! Man must be employed; and how more agreeably than in conversing with Nature, and in seeing the works of his own hands, assisted by her, rising into perfection.