tention of moisture, proportionally greater than in the open park.

The first thing to be done with these plantations is the same as with single Trees, namely, to go over them carefully, and examine what cover they have upon the roots, and to supply it if wanting, with earth taken from the intervals. Το make up the cover to ten inches in depth, is at least equal to a foot or fourteen inches, in the open field. It seldom happens, unless the outside plants be very deficient in length of root, that any consolidation, by the beater, can be wanted; neither is any uncommon accuracy material, in levelling or dressing the surface, unless what is required to preserve the general character of the ground, and to prevent the stagnation of water in any part. In respect to fencing the Trees, nothing needs to be said on that subject; as the plantations being close, that is, composed of Grove and Underwood, necessarily implies an enclosure completely secured against sheep or cattle.

As it is equally important, though not nearly so difficult, to preserve Close or enclosed Plantations from suffering by drought, as open dispositions of wood, Shows must be laid upon the roots in the former, by the middle of May, at the latest, and before the summer droughts set in. For this work, the same method is to be followed, as that prescribed for single Trees; only, should your

stock of Shows be not abundant, the allowance may be decreased, by a third part, for the Trees, and by the one-half, for the Underwood. In respect to Watering, it is to be done in a similar manner, every fourth day, as pointed out for detached Trees, but not so copiously, as in the case of the latter, for the reasons already assigned, and because those Trees are much more exposed to the action of the atmosphere.

During the first season, the cultivation of the ground is of small moment; but, without displacing the Shows, it may be hoed in the intervals. In the second year, the entire surface is to be lightly pointed over with the spade, and carefully kept with the hoe, until the plants shoot freely. From the superiority of this factitious climate, and other propitious circumstances, the plants very readily become established in the ground; and, in point of growth, they will soon outstrip all your other plantations. But it is worthy of remark, that, in this situation, we find no backwardness of growth, no stationary symptoms in these plants, but all advance with nearly equal vigour.*

From what has been said, the reader will perceive the great importance of a judicious system of management, for a few years subsequent to the removal of Trees, under any circumstances. The

*NOTE IV.

great design of After-work, independently of that of protecting the plants from external injury, is to bring about their speedy and full establishment in the ground. No plant can be said to be so established, unless it shoot forth with freedom, according to the soil in which it is placed; and that appears to depend, not so much on the actual quality of the soil, as on the degree of shelter, that is, of heat which it enjoys, at an early period. Accordingly, backward or stationary plants are much seldomer found in exposed, than in sheltered situations. If the directions here given, first, for the removing of the Trees, and then for their subsequent treatment, be properly observed, there is reason to believe, that they will be as successful, as could be desired or expected, by the most sanguine planter.

It has been calculated by some Arboriculturists, and probably with correctness, that a young plantation, judiciously prepared, and afterwards kept clean, for seven or eight years, will grow more within that space of time, than it would do in twenty years, by the ordinary method of planting, without such preparation and keeping. If this be true, I believe it may be said, with at least equal justice, that Close Plantations of removed wood, if properly executed, and kept with the hoe for two years, are equal to ordinary plantations of at least forty, or five-and-forty years' standing, in

this climate. At the end of four years, they will branch out on every side with such luxuriance, as to require the utmost industry of the pruner to restrain them within due limits: And yet it is indispensably necessary that they should be so restrained; the standard or grove Trees being kept spiral, yet stately, and the underwood close, but subordinate in its character.

As to the detached or Open Dispositions of wood, the same extraordinary progress cannot be expected from them. But I may assert with truth, after the experience of more than forty years, that there are no plantations at this place, which exhibit the same general health, and progressive vigour, as the REMOVED WOODS, whether it be in open groups, or close plantations, as the Committee of the Highland Society has very amply attested. And, should they continue by the one half only as rapidly progressive, for the time to come, the axe must interpose, in order to prevent them from obscuring the glades, or blotting out the distances of the landscape.

SECTION XI.

EXPENSE ATTENDING THE FOREGOING

OPERATIONS.

ON more than one occasion, in the course of this Essay, I have ventured to state, that the art under discussion laid claim to be one of "practical utility." But it would ill support that pretension, if the principles it unfolds, and the practice it recommends, for giving Immediate Effect to Wood, involved an extravagant expenditure. For an art to be generally useful, it must produce something better than the gigantic feats, and the costly wonders of former ages. If the art in question possess any one merit above another, it is that of lessening the Expense of both present and former practice, and bringing it within the reach of any person of moderate fortune.

Of all the rural luxuries which the Landowner may enjoy, there is certainly no one more exquisite, than that of obtaining, at pleasure, the command of Wood; and every one, we should think,