servient to principles, and to a careful study of those beautiful, but simple methods, which Nature pursues, in perfecting her works.

SECT. V.

FURTHER DEVELOPEMENT OF THE NEW THEORY. SELECTION OF SUBJECTS.

IF it be true, as has been observed by a judicious writer,* that the Removal of Large Trees "forms the most difficult part of Planting," it is certainly not less true, that the Selection of Subjects forms the most difficult part of Transplanting. To transplant, however, at all, we must have subjects. At a place of any extent, these are never wanting; although they must abound or be deficient, according to the diligence of culture, especially in respect to thinning, with which the woods and plantations have been treated. Yet it must not be imagined, that, at places of small extent, subjects are not likewise to be found. At such, the current of the prevailing winds is always less broken, and the climate less improved, than under the shelter of broad and extensive masses of wood. Other things, therefore, being equal, there will

*Marshall.

probably be more and better subjects at small, or middle-sized places, than at great, that is, in proportion to the size of the masses, from which they are taken. But at both, nevertheless, they may often be invisible to the eyes of the owners.

Woods are planted for two main purposes, utility and ornament, with both of which shelter is obviously combined. In woods planted for utility, the greatest elongation of the stems of Trees is required; and close-planting, pruning, and other means are employed, to obtain what is considered as the greatest possible "weight of wood." In plantations, raised for beauty or shelter, such as in Parks and pleasure-grounds, the planter's object is, to prevent an undue elongation of the stems, and to promote an expansion of the tops of Trees, so as to enable them to develope themselves, in their just and natural proportions. It is almost needless to observe, that it is from woods or plantations of the last mentioned description, that the Selection of Subjects is, for the most part, to be made. If made judiciously, it will furnish, without doubt, the best practical illustration of the Theory attempted to be established, in the two foregoing Sections.

Before proceeding to deliver any specific rules on this important topic, perhaps the best way will be, to attempt an indirect road to our purpose,

by enumerating the several erroneous motives of choice, which have generally influenced planters, and by then endeavouring shortly to account, from the laws of nature, for the ill success that has attended such selection.

The most general ways, in which injudicious removals are made, appear to be of three different kinds; First, by a want of adaptation of Trees to the particular soils, in which they are calculated to thrive; Secondly, by the thinning of Close woods and plantations, for the supply of Subjects; and Thirdly, by the setting out of plants, at too early an age, into the open field.

First; as to the adaptation of Trees to their proper soils. All plants, woody or herbaceous, seem to be fitted, by nature, to grow best in particular soils and subsoils, in which they thrive more luxuriantly than in others. This is a fact, which is, or should be familiar to all planters. In other departments, such as husbandry, it is universally understood. No farmer of intelligence ever errs, in adapting his crops to the soils most proper for them, or puts his wheat or his beans, where his barley or turnip should be put, or vice versa. Not so, however, the planter: For, nine times in ten, he pays no regard to adaptation, but puts the same Trees indiscriminately on every soil. Even late practical writers of name and au

thority advocate the practice, and recommend, that mixed plantations of all Trees should universally be made, with the design, as they allege, of producing "a greater weight of wood," than by any other method. This is a system, which, to say the least, sets little value on experience. In fact, it equalizes all plants, and all soils at once, and renders all judgment in treating them superfluous.

But, however such a method may succeed, in producing mixed effects in plantations, it cannot be admitted for wood in the lawn or park, in which the prominent effects are to result from small groups or individual Trees, and where, on that account, every single failure tells, and appears conspicuous. No man, who knows anything of wood, will put down the Sycamore, the Lime, or the Wild Cherry, for example, on a clayey soil; neither will he put the Oak or the Elm on light sand or gravel, but, on the contrary, on the deepest and loamiest land he can find, and, for the former, even with a clay-bottom: For, although the oak, in particular, is the most accommodating of all Trees, it is only on land of this sort that it will really thrive, and grow to timber. But, to the skilful planter, the subsoil is often regarded as of more moment than the mere texture of the surface, as the degrees of moisture, most suitable to woody plants, form, perhaps, the most prominent