If, when the Plantation has been thus neglected, a person is called in who does not fully understand what he is about, irreparable mischief will be done: he is almost sure to thin too freely. A proprietor of long neglected Plantations must, therefore, be well assured beforehand, that the person he employs will be guided in the course he takes by correct views, both practical and scientific, upon the whole subject; and when such is the case, the most suitable and appropriate plans will be adopted.
Should any one demand of me before I close, some data on which he may judge whether or not a Plantation is in a condition requiring unusual attention, I offer the following:
First: If, upon examination, it be found that the trees intended for timber have not an aspect and position superior to the others which are around them:
Secondly: If, at any period after twenty years from the time of planting, it be found difficult to identify and point out the trees which are to be the final crop:
Thirdly: When there are any decided indications of a want of health and vigour, there is proof sufficient that something more is required to be done than has yet been done. The grosser cases of Plantations which have never been entered for any purpose, for five, ten, fifteen, or twenty years together, need not be pointed at. Every one who sees them must perceive the necessity of their being relieved without loss of time. No plant, of which we have any knowledge, can exist without light and air, and in proportion to the extent to which they are excluded from Plantations, will be the injurious effect produced upon the health of the trees. In fact, it may be laid down as a universal rule, that in proportion to the judgment and discrimination which are exercised in gradually admitting both light and air into Plantations, of almost every description, will be their healthy progress.
I conclude my remarks on this part of my subject by observing that, having admitted, as I most fully and readily do, that a few instances may be met with in almost every county where the science of Arboriculture is tolerably well understood, and its principles carried out, I must still contend that cases enough may be found—First; of a want of preparation of the ground: Secondly; of an improper selection of plants, either as to kind or size: Thirdly; of an unsuitable admixture of them: Fourthly; of mistakes committed as to their distance from each other: Fifthly; when they are injured for want of early attention: Sixthly; when injury is done to them for want of, or from imprudent, or excessive, thinning, to fully justify me, or any one else, in bringing before the public the “mismanagement” of Plantations.
CHAP. III.
HEDGE-ROW TIMBER.
In commencing this, the third part of my subject, I am fully impressed with a sense of its magnitude and difficulty; and nothing but a thorough conviction resting on my own mind, of the truth of the position which I have taken with reference to the present state, and the present management of Hedge-row Timber, would have emboldened me to give expression to views which cannot but be unpalatable to many, however just they may be, and however strong their claim, to the serious notice of others. I am fully prepared to expect that censure may be dealt out by some, in not very measured terms, but this does not move me: having nothing but a plain, unvarnished tale to tell, I shall tell that tale as fearlessly as if I were about to pour sweetest music into the ears of those who may read. I know whereof I speak; and while I have as little fear of any one successfully attempting to disprove what I shall advance, as I have at present, I can contemplate, without a single disturbed feeling, the liability to which I shall assuredly expose myself, of having sundry missiles thrown at me by those who are deeply implicated in the present “mismanagement” of this valuable property. Thus much with reference to those who are in offices of trust and confidence, as the managers of Woods, Plantations, and Hedge-Rows, if any such shall favour me with a perusal. But I may not proceed any further, before I say a few words in deprecation of the displeasure of a more important class of persons who will, I trust, do me the honour to read my “Remarks”; I mean, the proprietors of Hedge-row Timber. To these—or rather to that portion of them who have hitherto paid little attention to this part of their property—I would say, let my observations be “weighed in the balances,” and, if they are “found wanting,” let these be set against what cannot be called more than a venial error—an error of judgment—the strong, the ardent desire that I have to see introduced the correction of what I have, at least, deemed to be, a serious mischief.
If Hedge-row Timber has been “mismanaged”—and who can doubt it—on whom shall the blame fall? As I have more than once said before, not on a class of men who, from their education, must necessarily be limited to the mechanical duties connected with their office, but on the Owners of Timber, from whom either directly, or through the agency of persons duly qualified, such rules and regulations ought to proceed, as would insure a better system of management. Practices are allowed, and such a state of things is permitted by the proprietors of Hedge-row Timber, as abundantly prove that many of them have never either understood its value, or given themselves the trouble to enquire whether it was under a course of suitable treatment or not.