branches, which retain a large quantity of sap, and, by their junction with the stem, occasion a contraction, and twisted direction of the vessels, which obstructs the progress of the (proper) juice. That this is true in fact, is well known to those, accustomed to make Wine, from Maple or Birch Trees: For, in this business it is found, that those Trees, which have fewest side-branches, bleed more freely than the others, but during a much shorter space of time. These hints, therefore, afford additional evidence against Pruning, and particularly against pruning Fir-trees; which, as Mr Knight justly observes, have larger vessels than the others; and therefore, when in an improved soil and climate, side-branches for the purposes above mentioned are essentially necessary to them, if solid, resinous, and durable timber be the object in view. "From the foregoing remarks, I think the following conclusions may be drawn, respecting the management of Trees. "First; That Trees should be planted as much as possible in soils, situations and climates, analogous to those of their natural state: and that it is chiefly in this state, or where there are some defects relative to it, that Pruning and Culture can be exercised with advantage. "Secondly; That in proportion to the superiority of the soil, &c. in which Trees are placed, over the natural soil of those Trees; in the same proportion Pruning, and Cultivating the soil ought to be avoided, and thinning encouraged. "Thirdly; That particular regard should be had to the soil and situation, where either Larches, or any other of the Pine tribe are planted, to remain as the final crop : For, as the roots of these chiefly run along the surface, and as in them the great current of the sap is chiefly confined to one channel, that is, the trunk, consequently, that tribe of Trees is peculiarly liable to injury and change, when subjected to unnatural agency. "Fourthly; That the only way, in which Oak Timber of safe quality can be provided for the British Navy, is, by enclosing, preserving from Cattle, and properly managing those royal forests, where Oak is the natural produce of the soil.-(Alas! there is reason to fear, that, on some future day, the neglect of this advice will be regretted.)-Park Oak is very frequently much inferior to Forest Oak in durability. "Fifthly; That, as the practice recommended tends to render Trees characteristical of their peculiar species, it must consequently be the most agreeable to ornament, or the principles of natural taste." Vol. II. B. 1, p. 492. et seqq. I request forgiveness of the reader for this long discussion, which has altogether transcended the bounds of an ordinary Note, and swelled to a sort of a disquisition. But, independently of my own remarks, I was desirous to give as much publicity as possible to speculations, which are as ingenious as they are physiologically just, and which bear so strongly on Wood in general, and Transplanting in particular, that, I trust, a sufficient apology will be found for them, in the importance of the subject. NOTE IV. Page 124. I have now practised this method for so many years, that it comes to be pretty generally known, in different districts of the kingdom. In Perthshire, Forfarshire, Berwickshire especially, I have found it pretty prevalent, chiefly through the communications of my worthy friend Mr Thomas White, the celebrated landscape-gardener, and his father of the same name; and, in other districts, as I am informed, it is familiar to planters, who are utterly ignorant of the source from whence it originated. On enquiring lately, of a Perthshire gentleman, what benefit he promised himself, from the practice of reversing the position of his Trees, on Removal? He candidly replied, "that he knew no benefit at all, that could be derived from it: But, understanding that it was the fashion of the day, he followed it implicitly, as he followed other fashions, without thinking it necessary to enquire about the matter." Now, this gentleman is a person of large property, and an extensive planter; which sufficiently shows the state of our general intelligence on the subject of Wood, and how important it is, if fashion must regulate the bu siness, that the fashion should be founded on some principles of science. Some little time since, I was applied to for advice, by a gen tleman, whose place lies on the West coast, and whose park descends, in a gradual slope, to the margin of the Atlantic. In this situation, his Trees were severely exposed to the Western and Southwestern gales, which, though mitigated in some sort by the skreen of Ireland, occasion his single and detached Trees to lean, in a remarkable manner, to the east and northeast, and become objects of deformity, rather than beauty. This, he said, was the case with the whole of them, that had not been thinned out from old Grove-wood, and which, for a considerable time, had had the benefit of shelter. I advised him, in all prominent or favourite situations, in the vicinity of the mansion-house, of approaches, or the like(where the Trees were otherwise of fine figure, and of no great size, that is, not exceeding from six to eight feet in girth), to loosen them in the ground, as if for Removal, according to the method practised here; raising the ball or mass of earth round the stem, and with it the turf, unbroken, nine feet out from the stem at the least; and, endeavouring beyond that distance, for seven or eight feet more (according to circumstances), to preserve the whole of the roots, if possible, and especially the minute fibres entire, in extricating them from the ground. In this way, he would have roots sixteen or seventeen feet long of a side. As soon as the Tree was pulled down, and that the depth or thickness of the mass, or ball of earth could be ascertained, I further advised, that the bottom of it should be worked as flat as possible, even should some downward or perpendicular shoots suffer in the operation; when, if there were the slightest declivity in the ground (as generally happens towards the exposed side), the ball or mass might be wheeled round on its bottom the entire circle, and thus the position of the branches be completely reversed. During this process, it is to be observed, that the most favourable opportunity would be afforded, supposing the land to be of a shallow description, to extend the pabulum of the Tree, by the introduction of fresh mould, and suitable compost, during the replanting. No lightening or mutilating of the top or lateral branches would here be necessary; because the person directing the work would necessarily take care to ascertain, be fore its commencement, the proper extent of the excavation, and the due length of the roots and fibres, so as to proportion the roots to the wants of the top. Were this process conducted with tolerable judgment, and according to the directions given in the present Treatise, I ventured to promise the owner, and I think not rashly, that, with expert workmen, and at the expense of from 15s. to L.1 per Tree, he might substitute a very handsome, for a very unsightly object. In a few years likewise, it would happen, that the Tree would be beautifully balanced, by an extension of its branches on the deficient side, now turned to leeward, without any loss of the powers of developement, in either its branches, or its roots. I think it worth while to state the above, as being, in a great measure, a remedy for that, for which no remedy seems as yet to have been discovered, and which is an evil of considerable magnitude, to persons so circumstanced. No one, of course, will suppose, that it is meant to recommend the reversing or wheeling round of ill-balanced Trees, in ordinary circumstances ; because, where the two angles formed by Trees with the ground, on the sheltered and the windward sides, are not excessively different, judicious pruning may certainly cure every deformity of top. But, in any case, much will depend on the judgment displayed in the execution. NOTE V. Page 125. The notion that Trees, whether young or old, suffer greatly on Removal, if not replanted in the same exposure, and also in the same position, according to the points of the compass, in which they previously stood, appears to be a prejudice of great antiquity. Theophrastus, the only writer in ancient times deserving the name of a phytologist, gravely states the opinion, and gives his reasons for entertaining it, namely, the power which habit exerts over all plants, and their inability to resist the elements (See Περὶ φυτῶν Ἱστορίας, L. II. 7, and Περὶ Φυτῶν "AITI, L. III. 6). In all this he is accurately copied by the Geoponic Writers, as may be seen by the quotation from Ana tolius (Sect. II. Note VII. anteh.), also by Cato, Columella, Palladius, and others. The mode, prescribed by the whole of them, is, to mark the Trees, before being taken up, with white, or other colours, so that the sides, which faced the north or south, &c., may be regularly turned again to the same quarters. Pliny, though usually not slow in retailing the fables or the prejudices of others, is the only ancient writer, who treats the doctrine with indifference or contempt (See Hist. Nat. L. XVII. 2.). Virgil, like those who went before him, describes the same process of marking the south and north sides of Trees, but he describes it like a poet : Quin etiam cœli regionem in cortice signant ; Austrinos tulerit, quæ terga obverterit axi, Restituant: Adeò in teneris consuescere multùm est. Georg. L. II. 269. It is not to be supposed, that, among the phytologists of the 17th century, there would be any dissenting voices against such ancient authorities. Wise, Austen, Cooke, and all our other early Arboriculturists, advocate the same system. Even the father of English Planting, the respectable Evelyn, who united practice to theory, is so convinced of its soundness, that he is regularly angry with Pliny, for treating it with contempt. "The southern parts of Trees (he says) being on a sudden turned to the north, does starve and destroy more Trees, how careful soever men may have been in ordering their roots, and preparing the ground, than any other accident whatsoever, neglect of staking (i. e. propping), and defending from cattle excepted * *. Which monition, though Pliny and some others think good to neglect, or esteem indifferent, I can confirm from frequent losses of my own, and particular trials, having sometimes transplanted great Trees at Midsummer with success, and miscarried in others, where the circumstance of aspect only was omitted." Silva, Vol. I. pp. 98, 99. But it may be observed, that, unless these great Trees were Fir-trees, or other Evergreens, this worthy man should have reflected, that the extraordinary season he selected for the work (a season which, on other occasions, he |