Much may, and probably ought, to be said, on the errors of bad planters: it is indeed a prolific, as well as an important subject; and if there were any solid ground on which to rest a hope that an exposure of all the mistakes which are made in planting, would lead to the abandonment of such plans and practices as would be shown to be wrong, it would be a duty worthy the exercise of talents of the highest order. It does not, however, absolutely _require_ the aid of brilliant talent, or fervid eloquence, to place these matters in their proper light before those who are most concerned; a plain reference to facts will be quite sufficient for that purpose. The case of an Ancient Wood in an unthrifty and unprofitable condition, does not stand out so prominently—it is not so glaringly discreditable to its owner, as is a Plantation in the same state, which has been made by himself; for as to the former, the fact that “_it always was so_,” is, to a certain extent, an excuse for bad management; and in truth, it will generally be found a very difficult affair, as I have hinted before, to establish a _new system_ where the prejudice of ages, in favour of an _old one_, will meet the person who may attempt it, at every turn; but it is not so as to Plantations; when, therefore, a gentleman decides to plant, and has himself to do with the work _from the beginning_, both his interest, and his duty, point out the necessity of his seeing that it be _well done_; but the very reverse of this, is the _average_ of the general practice, as I shall presently show. It would be quite foreign to my purpose, to refer to the minor shades of difference which exist in the practice of planters: such difference indeed may be met with, between plans which are each in themselves excellent; I shall content myself, therefore, with referring, and that in general terms, to the most glaring mistakes which are committed, giving a few examples. To an eye that can take in the whole, it is lamentable to see the effects of ignorance and neglect, in the original formation, as well as in the subsequent treatment, of Plantations! With many, it seems to be expected that they will thrive and prosper, no matter how they may be put in, whereas the very contrary is the fact. With many planters there is a vague, indefinite notion—of course there is no _calculation_—that when once they are planted, trees will grow, not only without labour or culture, but under such adverse circumstances as at once convince the experienced planter of the utter impossibility of their doing so. As I have elsewhere said, a _young_ child, a _young_ animal, and a _young_ tree, all require the greatest possible attention, and the tenderest treatment; and the blighting effects which must result, and which do result, from _the absence of early attention_, are to be seen quite as strongly marked in the last, as in the other two.