AGRICULTUR E.

IT

T is univerfally acknowledged, that promoting the growth of trees, is very highly deferving every approbation in the power of the Society to bestow; and it is with great fatisfaction they perceive, that a practice fo conducive to the benefit of the public, is extending itself into those parts of the kingdom, which have long been disfigured by barren and fandy heaths. This has been eminently shewn in Bedfordshire, where the flourishing plantations, made by Francis Moore, Efq. at Afpley Guife, of which an account is given in the first Volume of the Society's Transactions, page 129, and those defcribed in the following letters, cannot fail of being particularly beneficial, whether we confider the plantations with respect to those trees intended to stand for timber,

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timber, or the underwood as fupplying fewel to a part of the country where that neceffary article has hitherto been at fo high a price.

In the year 1782, the Society were informed a large plantation of wood had been made, by the Right Honourable the Earl of Upper-Offory, near Ampthill in Bedfordshire; and although no application had been made to the Society for any premium offered on that fubject, yet they judged proper to enquire into the nature and extent of thofe improvements; and, after receiving the information contained in the following letters, prefented to the Earl of Upper-Offory their GOLD MEDAL, as a mark of their approbation of the extenfive plantations made by his Lordship near Ampthill,

Ampthill,

SIR,

Ampthill, Jan. 14, 1783.

THE 24th of December laft, I was favoured with a letter from Mr. Small, with a requifition to know the nature, fize, and condition of Lord Offory's plantations, and to transmit the fame to you.—I immediately applied to his Lordship for information, who ordered his park gardener to make out the account of the number of acres, &c. which I have here enclosed.

If the Society or yourself should want any further information, and will acquaint me with it, I will, with pleasure, obey their or your commands.

I am, Sir,

Your most humble Servant,

L. HUMBERSTONE.

Mr. SAMUEL MORE,

Secretary to the Society for Encouragement of Arts, &c.

To

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To MR. HUMBERS TONE.

SIR,

Ampthill Park, Jan. 12, 1783.

THE different plantations of the Earl of Upper-Offory, that have lately been planted, confift of about forty-fix acres, and are planted with about one hundred and eighty-four thoufand trees, that is, four thousand per acre; all of them are in a very flourishing condition. Some of the above are within the park, others on barren ground contiguous to it, and a few acres on one of his Lordship's eftates, a few miles diftant. The greater part are planted with Scotch Firs, mixed with Foreft-trees of all kinds, fuch as Oaks, Beeches, Spanish Chefnuts, Hornbeam, Birch, Sycamore, Lombardy Poplar, Larches, and Spruce Firs; one plantation excepted, which was planted laft year