To imagine that a comparatively slow-growing tree can be placed in near contiguity with another whose rate of progress is much quicker, _without_ receiving injury, is to manifest a want of knowledge of the habits of trees, which may be excused in an amateur planter, but which cannot be overlooked in a practical man, who is well paid for his services. A fourth error which is committed, is one upon which I have slightly touched already, and refers to the question of _adaptation of the kind of tree planted_, first, to _the nature of the soil planted upon_, and next, _if the object of the planter be profit, to the local demand_. Most serious mistakes have been committed upon both these points, even by men whose writings have procured them a niche in the Temple of Fame. Under this head a few cases will now be referred to. It is impossible, at this distance of time, to fix the exact amount of blame, or responsibility, which of right attaches itself to the name of _Pontey_, for instance, who planted an immense tract of land near Lincoln, belonging to that splendid charity, Christ’s Hospital: tradition, which, however, may do him injustice, accuses him of having contracted to plant with Larch and Oak, and having, on some pretence or other, substituted Scotch Fir. Whatever was the precise amount of _responsibility_ attaching to him, I know not; he might be following out the letter of his instructions, for ought that I can tell, but it is quite certain that, even with the then imperfect knowledge which was possessed of the value of larch, _a very great mistake_ was committed, in planting nearly a thousand acres of land, which was well adapted both for oak and larch, with profitless rubbish like that which is now seen upon it. A work of that magnitude ought not to have been intrusted to any one who, either from mercenary motives, or from limited views, was capable of falling into such a gross error, as to the interests of his employers. It is no exaggeration to say, that if the Skellingthorpe Plantation had been planted, as it ought to have been, with oak and larch, together with a few spruce firs, and if Pontey had left _suitable instructions with those who had to take care of it, after his superintendence had ceased_, it would now have been, at the most moderate computation, _fifteen hundred per cent. more valuable than it is_! If it were _private property_, I should not presume to add what I now feel myself at perfect liberty to do, with reference to its present condition, and the future prospect respecting it.