or false filling, and, in consequence, a settling of the mold; which would cramp the upper tires of the roots therein to be laid; and, at the same time, to give the greatest firmness to the plants, at a time when much may depend on the undisturbed state of the fibres.

A well rooted plant, put in with due precautions; such as packing in the fresh mold, by hand, while the plant is in a somewhat heeling posture, so as to give freedom to the workman, and additional firmness to the filling; bedding the rootlets singly, firmly, and divaricated, among the soil (fine mold being scattered over the hands of the planter, while he keeps each branch in its proper place); treading layer after layer, as the pit is filled in; and, finally, loading the roots with soil; -receives an immediate firmness and stability, which, in sheltered situations, precludes the necessity of supporters, even to plants of fifteen to twenty feet high: indeed, well rooted plants, thus put in, seem to stand firmer-stiffer—after planting, than before they were taken up.

WITH respect to the pruning of the tops, part of it should be done previously to the removal; the finishing part being done after planting. Lightening the heads before transplanting (and especially shortening the lower boughs of the Pine tribe),

renders the plants better to handle, and secures them from ordinary winds, presently after removal. But there is a twofold reason for completing the operation after the plants are set in their new situation. The additional top, probably, encreases the acting power of the fibrils, to feed in their new pasture; and, when the several plants are in their places, the desirable form of the top of each, so as to make it assimilate with its neighbours, and give the best surface with a fresh, plantation of this kind is capable of admitting, may be best seen.

Ir may be said, in general terms, that the top of a plant should not be touched with the pruning knife, while it is out of the ground; saving such part of it as is out of the reach of the pruner, when standing. The principal part of the pruning, whether of trees or shrubs, should be done before the plants are taken up; the finishing given after they are replanted, and have begun to work in their new situation. But the leaders of tall plants should be particularly attended to, while they are in a horizontal position.

The expence of transplanting is considerable. Three men moving plants, near twenty feet high, and as thick as the leg, in the above-described deliberate manner, and carrying them a hundred yards, do not move more than six or eight plants

a day. This (with the previous expence of digging the holes), is not less than eightpence or ninepence a plant. It is true, by hurrying over the work, in a slovenly way, something might be saved. But the saving, compared with the risk of losing plants of this size, the loss of labour, and the disfigurement of a plantation of this kind, is no object of consideration.

FOR further Remarks on this Method of Plantting, see the RURAL ECONOMY OF The Midland COUNTIES, Minutes 146 and 168.

MINUTE THE THIRTEENTH.

FEBRUARY 6. On TRANSPLANTING the PINE and FIR TRIBES, into plantations, or extended masses of wood, the points or leading shoots of their lower boughs should be taken off. First, to check these boughs, and thereby enable the roots to send up a better supply of nourishment to the leaders and upper boughs in general. For this purpose, if the lower boughs be numerous, they may be shortened, even to the innermost wings or a pair of branches, with advantage: the Spruce Firs of plantation A. succeeded perfectly, the last season,

under this treatment*. Secondly, to prevent their encumbering their neighbours; the treatment being singularly applicable to the Scotch Pine, in mixed plantations. In almost every place, the evil consequences of not attending to this are ob vious. And Lastly, in the interior of a plantation, the sooner the lower boughs die and drop off, the more valuable the timber becomes.

BUT of the Pine tribe, set out as standards, or in groups, or in the outer ranks of a plantation, the lower boughs are their best ornament. How rich is their effect at BERKLEY, at ENVILLE, and at FISHERWICK. But, even in this case, it is not always necessary, or proper, to suffer all the lower boughs to remain at their full length. If they are numerous, they will not only carry off too much sap, and thereby weaken the head of the plant, but themselves become slender, feeble, and, take a bushy unsightly form ;-whereas, by leaving a proper number of strong boughs, in suitable directions, and checking the rest, the plant will at once be invigorated, and acquire variety of outline and strength of feature, as it grows up.

TRANSPLANTED Roots can only send up a certain supply of sap, and it is the planter's duty

See RUR. ECON. of the MID. COUNT. Vol. ii. p. 351.

to see that no portion of it be portion of it be spent in vain,-that every drop be applied to the most useful purpose. And, further, inasmuch as single trees require a greater quantity of boughs to be left standing, the planter, if he even hope for success, ought to be sedulously attentive to take up, and remove with them, a quantity of fibres proportioned to the necessary exhaustion; and the greatest possible length of root, to give them stability and firmness, in their new situation.

MINUTE THE FOURTEENTH,

FEBRUARY 20. (see MIN. 6.) In an attempt to COLOUR this part of the plantation,-so as by rendering the recess dark, to throw it into shadow, and by giving a degree of lustre to the projection, give variety at least, if not picturable effect,—we perceive that the art of COLOURING WITH TREES is attended with a difficulty which we were not aware of: their winter and summer colours are not only different, but, in some valuable species, opposite. Thus the Lime, in winter, is remarkably dark, but in summer, its leaves are of the lighter shade of green; and the Esculus, which is singularly dark, in summer, has now, a somewhat pallid appearance.