THE PLANTER'S GUIDE. SECTION I. UTILITY AND IMPORTANCE OF ARBORICULTURE. ART OF GIVING IMMEDIATE EFFECT TO WOOD. THERE is, perhaps, no epithet, by which the inhabitants of the Northern Division of this Island, in the present day, can be more appropriately distinguished, than that of a "Planting Nation," or, to speak with more correctness, a "Nation of Planters." All men now plant, who are possessed of land-property, from the wealthy citizen with his villa of an acre, to the powerful baron with his park of a thousand acres; each according to the extent of his surface, and the measure of his ability. The vast sums, which are annually laid out on this useful and ornamental object, would exceed belief, if fairly estimated, considering the limited wealth of the country, compared with that of England. Yet of Trees the Scottish land-owner for the most part knows little, although he may possibly A know as much as his English neighbours: But, like them, he lays out his money freely on the work, however executed, conceiving, and with justice, that he has done a great thing, if not for himself, at least for his posterity. Unacquainted with the history, properties, and culture of Trees, he naturally enough sees with the eyes, and hears with the ears of his Gardener; and, as the Gardener, ninety-nine times in a hundred, knows nothing himself, it is "the blind leading the blind," in this important branch of rural economy. Sometimes the Forester is the operating person, which is still more unfortunate; for this is generally a mere lopper and cutter of wood. In ordinary cases, he is much worse educated than the Gardener, with equal pretensions as to Arboriculture, and equal ignorance. On the Gardeners of Scotland it is not here intended to throw the slightest reflection, unless for wandering out of the line of their own profession. They are a class of men, possessed of superior intelligence, as well as respectability. They have done great honour to their native country, both at home and abroad. But this very intelligence should prevent them from engaging in a department, for which they know they cannot have leisure, if they duly cultivate their own, but which is too frequently put upon them, by the indolence or ignorance of their employers. The fact is, that of all land-produce Wood is the least studied and understood, by the landowners themselves, and, by consequence, the worst managed.* To all estates this subject must be of some value; to many it is of vast and vital importance, involving the interests of more than one generation; while to others it is the principal and paramount source of their revenue. In an age, therefore, when everything useful and ornamental becomes the subject of scientific investigation, and general study, it seems singular, that Arboriculture should be at once so universally practised, and in its principles so utterly neglected. The lords of the soil in this kingdom have, from time immemorial, been good Sportsmen. Of late, they have become knowing Agriculturists and Cattle-breeders; and, as the tide of fashion has not long since set in from the south, in favour of the occupation last mentioned, and flowed even to fulness, so we may hope, that the knowledge of WOOD will ere long have its turn. Who, the most speculative, forty years since, could have anticipated, that the pedigree, form, and fat of sheep and bullocks should, in the present day, have become an interesting study to the gay, and the fashionable? By a revolution in things as unexpected, we may conceive it possible, that a little * NOTE I. Botany and Vegetable Physiology, together with a thorough acquaintance with Planting and Arboriculture, may at length engage the attention of those, who are most interested in their success. Probably it will be found, that no nobleman or gentleman will make a worse sportsman, a less scientific farmer, or a less successful cattle-dealer, for having some conversancy with Wood, or being able to detect the ignorance of his own gardener. or forester; and, should a knowledge of painting, or the principles of landscape be added, their elegant and attractive character will surely not derogate from these more useful acquirements. TREES are, without doubt, the most beautiful objects, that adorn inanimate nature. They are likewise the most important production of the vegetable kingdom to civilized man. Without Trees, the mountains and the plains, the lakes and the rivers would want their brightest ornament; and without them also, the most useful and the most elegant arts would be destitute of materials. Nature, in the beginning, bountifully supplied the earth with Trees and forests; but a large proportion was necessarily cleared away, to admit of the cultivation of the earth. In process of time, as the wants of men multiplied, forests were cut down, and industry became indispensable, in order to furnish a supply. Hence, the planting and rearing of Wood and Timber-Trees for that purpose, is one |