_Stubbing up rubbish_, such as _thorns_, _briers_, _birch_, and, in many places, _hazel_, is much to be recommended, as by this means, light and air will be admitted more freely, and the health of the wood promoted, and, of course, its growth facilitated. It is perhaps just possible, that there may be a few cases where the demand may be such for birch, hazel, or alder, as to warrant a woodman in keeping them as a part of his stock; but I have generally found, upon inquiry, that they have fetched such a miserable price, as to yield very little more than would pay expences. _The absolute necessity of filling up with young plants_ must be universally admitted, although _in practice_, it is very rarely done, or, if done at all, it is very generally so ill done, as to produce no perceptible improvement in the stock. It too often happens that sufficient care is not bestowed in _selecting the plants_. They are frequently put in _too small_, and when they are long enough, they are often _deficient in thickness_. All plants put into old woods, should be of _good size_, _stiff_, and _well rooted_. Again: it will be admitted, that they are often planted in a most slovenly and careless manner.—The following is a specimen of what I have _seen_. The workman takes his spade, and inserts it in the ground as far as it will go, _in a sloping direction_; he then raises it to a _perpendicular position_, which, of course, produces a “_nick_,” into which he _thrusts the plant_, and having put his heavy foot upon it, there and thus, he leaves it to its fate, and pursues his ill-directed labour, without a gleam of light breaking in upon him, as to the possibility of his being more usefully employed, or doing his work in a more effective manner! In this way, or in some such way as this, thousands of acres of Ancient Woods are treated every year; but it must be clear to every one, that such a practice is a disgrace to those who pursue it. If the workmen are asked their opinion of it, they will, in most cases, assure you, that the plants will “_all grow_,” but the misfortune is, that _experience_ is against them. Both theory and practice are directly opposed to their view. But independently of facts, which every where condemn such methods, no one acquainted with the _rudiments_ of the subject, needs to be told, that it is utterly unlikely that either an oak or an ash plant should grow, under the manifest disadvantages in which it is placed, when its roots are thus _jumbled together_, and forced into a “_nick_” fit only for a willow set; and when, moreover, it has to commence its course in competition with other underwood, which has already possession of the ground. It is absurd to suppose that it should succeed. I do not presume to say that some woods do not receive different treatment, in _all_ respects, to that which I have denounced: that would not be true; but these are the exceptions, and even where the management is best, there is much to complain of.