for supporting the tree, and protecting it from the effects of drought, during the first season after removal. Witch Hazels, he also adds, were transferred in the same manner, and indiscriminately from the nursery-ground, and from the open forest.*

The same writer, as well as Theophrastus, mentions, that it was a common practice to reestablish large Trees, and particularly the Platanus, that had been blown down, and had their roots torn up, by the violence of the wind; and that this was effected, by skilfully replanting them, so as that the lacerated parts completely knit again and revived. Moreover, Pliny speaks of a Fir-tree, which, before it was transplanted, had a tap-root no less than eight cubits long, that is, reckoning from the place, at which it was broken off in the taking up, but that a considerable part of it still remained in the ground. This extraordinary circumstance respecting the Fir he seems to have taken from Theophrastus, who states it as a fact known in his time respecting the Pitch-pine, and entitled to credit.‡

Cato, Varro, and Columella all speak of the Transplantation of Trees of various sizes. The Younger Seneca informs us, in one of his Letters, written from the Villa of Scipio Africanus, but

* NOTE IV.

+ Hist. Nat. L. XVI. 31. Theophrast. Hist. Plant. L. IV. 19. Hist. Plant. L. II. 7.

then belonging to an intelligent friend of his own, that he had there learned the method of successfully removing an entire orchard of Old Trees, as practised by the latter; that the Trees, after the third and fourth year, produced an abundant crop of fruit, with the fairest promise of thriving luxuriantly, and continuing their shade to a late period. This, he adds, was an interesting lesson for him, at an advanced time of life, when men naturally wish to plant for themselves, although they generally do so for posterity.* Virgil, in the same way, in describing his old Corycian, takes care to celebrate his skill in the planting of Wood of a large size, as one of the excellencies of a Roman husbandman. But no antient author, as far as I know, has left us any body of practical precepts, respecting the execution. The only two, who have handed down any thing like a description of it, are the Younger Seneca, who lived in the time of Nero, and Anatolius, a Greek physician, and one of the Geoponic Writers, who, according to the best critics, was contemporary with the Emperor Constantine. These, therefore, may properly be considered, as describing the Greek and the Roman methods of Transplanting; and, as the subject is curious, it may be worth while to give their respective accounts, in their own words.

Anatolius, as far as we can judge, possessed considerable skill in this department. "If (says he) you would remove a large Tree to advantage, open a very deep trench or pit. (This planter, we may suppose, had a very porous subsoil.) Be careful to eut away the spray, and smaller Branches, but without injuring the larger ones; and also to leave the whole of the Roots entire and untouched. Then place the Tree carefully in the pit, covering up its roots with a quantity of good mould and manure. Observe, however (adds he), this special precaution; that, to whichever side it inclined or leaned at first, let it incline to the same side, in its new situation."* It is true, these directions are given for Trees bearing fruit; but we may fairly conclude, that they equally applied to Forest Trees ; and it would be well for modern planters, were their practice not more defective than that of Anatolius.

The Account, given by Seneca of the Roman practice, is greatly more circumstantial. "There are two methods (he says, in the Letter abovementioned), according to which my friend plants his Olive-ground (olivetum). The one is, by removing Trees of a large size, and making the plantation at once: The other is, by planting Sets, of which the progress is necessarily much slower. According to the former mode, the first thing to

*NOTE VII.

be done is, to cut off all the Branches, to the distance of a foot from the trunk. The next thing is, to do the same by the lateral Roots, leaving nothing entire, except the body of the root, from which the fibres issue. The Tree is next placed in the pit, with a sufficient quantity of manure, and mould is thrown in and consolidated, by the most assiduous pressure, and firm treading with the foot. Nothing, as my friend conceives, is more efficacious, than this way of giving solidity and consistency to the earth round the stem. It excludes both cold and drought, and preserves the Tree from the ill effects of wind; as it is obvious, that the slightest agitation has a tendency to strain the tender fibres, and prevent them from striking properly in the ground, and going forth in search of their food. Last of all, before filling in the earth, he scrapes or cleans that part of the root, which is nearest the surface; because his idea is, that, from every part so treated and laid bare, new growths and fibres are immediately sent out. By the above process, as there are only three or four feet of the stem standing above ground, it is soon covered from top to bottom with new shoots; and no part of it appears stunted or hide-bound, as such Trees usually are, in old olive plantations.

"The other method of planting is, by means of Sets, which are formed of stout branches, and put into the pits, in a manner similar to that above described. In selecting these, however, care must

be taken, that they are covered with fresh and tender bark, such as young trees generally produce. It is true (as he observes), the Sets require much more time, than entire Trees, to arrive at maturity; but they become, in the end, not less beautiful and healthy, than if they had sprung from plants, which were raised in the ordinary manner.'

"

Notwithstanding this seeming nicety in the Roman practice, and the probability that it might have led to the establishment of principles, it is curious enough to perceive, that the art became retrograde, rather than progressive, in the hands of the Romans. Palladius, who wrote more than a century, after Seneca, and nearly two after Varro and Columella, directs, in his work to be done in November, that, in transferring Large Trees, all the Branches should be cut away, previously to their removal, and, consequently, the trees much more defaced and mutilated, than after the Greek manner; a precept, which seems now to be but too faithfully observed, by most planters of the present day.†

If we descend in our investigation to modern times, we shall not find, that any considerable progress has been made in the art, beyond the knowledge of the antient nations. The difficulty of transplanting an old Tree still remained proverb

*NOTE VIII.

+ NOTE IX.