excepted, is intrinsically worth no more than what it would fetch for hedging, the fire, charcoal, &c.

At P. 130-132, we have particularly noticed the way in which such method operates, in these cases, and the result we have as above. We cannot allow they are otherwise of value; because a tree worth five shillings may be raised much sooner, by displacing the whole, and paying attention to the next produce of the same stool. Under the present custom, however, the woodman has no choice, but to adopt the best shoots; or he will be no nearer his point the next fall than the present.

On better soils, the case certainly is somewhat different; but, even there, the value of produce, in proportion to what it might be, is trifling indeed; not only on account of being very small wood, but because the best of such is usually too

slender to resist the wind effectually, and too much hide-bound, to attract the sap sufficiently. Hence, for both reasons, they are not in condition to increase nearly as fast as a pole, which has previously been trained with some degree of attention.-No. 2, on pl. VIII. gives some idea of such produce, (technically Wavers,) as usually dressed and left by the woodman.

The attempt to convey accurate ideas of produce is here unnecessary, as well as impossible; for every specific case must differ from others, less or more. But if inattention will, in any given soil, and, in a certain time, produce such figures as No. 2, attention would, in the same time, produce one equal to No. 3; and how much the latter is calculated to improve faster than the former, is left to be determined by the intelligent; supposing the constitution of each to be the same; but, knowing that this can never happen, we hesitate not to say, that, for several years,

2

the latter must improve in value, at least three times as fast as the former.

Here we are willing to allow as much, in favour of neglect, as the friends thereof choose to claim, respecting the produce cut down in order to reduce No. 1. to the figure of No. 2. if they will allow a proper value for what must have been previously taken from the stool, No. 3; as that would at least have produced one good pole. But more of this when we come to show the manner in which such stools should be treated.

In the next place, we state, that under this system, the important matter of shelter ís completely overlooked. It is admitted, that Woods are not only sheltered for a few of the last years before a fall, but usually too much so; hence the greater damage is sustained, after the woodman has been introduced, with STARVATION at his heels.