given substance that could supply its place. In many districts, (as is seen in the present Section), it costs, when made up with Lime, not more than 6d. per cartload; and there are others, in which it may be had, at a still smaller cost. But much depends on the attention and care, that are bestowed on the preparation.

Nature, it will be found, is, generally speaking, very liberal in her gifts, but very impartial in their distribution, whether to countries, or their inhabitants. In those districts, in either England or Scotland, where soils are thin, and comparatively sterile, the valuable substance just now mentioned is usually to be had, at no extravagant expense of carriage: In the deep, calcareous, and sometimes alluvial soils of Hampshire and Devonshire, or even in the rich Carses or vales of Stirling and Perth, there is no need of its assistance. It frequently happens, however, that the success of the Planter, like that of the Agriculturist, is not precisely in the ratio of local advantages, or genial climates. Where Nature does much, there Man usually does little. Ingenuity and enterprise are many times excited and invigorated, by difficulties seemingly insurmountable; and hence skill, as well as science, often owes its birth, and sometimes its improvement, to the least-favoured regions of the earth.

NOTE III. Page 317.

These effects are considerably enhanced by one circumstance, which I may state, for the use of those, who are inclined to adopt such a plan for an Entrance-Gate, and that is, that the Gate is purposely placed at a sudden turn of the road. By that means, the front of the plantation is thrown into an incurvated or bending form; and thus the groups of Trees and Bushes in the foreground, are seen by the traveller, in a much more varied and picturesque way, than if he moved in a straight line, in the ordinary manner. To this I will add, that, had I the work to do again, I should probably set the Lodge about twenty feet further back.

From the general effect of this method of wooding the outsides of Park-Entrances, I am led to believe, that, if the plan

were adopted on a large scale, something very grand, as well as picturesque might be produced by it. Gateways and Lodges, one should think, must always be striking and beautiful objects, as they should, properly speaking, be the joint efforts of the Architect and the Landscape Gardener, who are supposed to lay out their joint skill and taste in the arrangement. But, without pretending to account for the fact, I may cursorily notice it, and that all men concur in the opinion, that these erections are usually very dull and monotonous things, doing little credit to the artists, and giving no pleasure to the owner.

In order to try the plan in question on a large scale, let us take a splendid example, and suppose, that the new Approach to the Palace of Hamilton, which seems now to be contemplated, from the Bridge over the Clyde, to the northward of the Town, were to be so executed. Of such a subject, I conceive, that a great deal might be made, from the nature of the scenery; and particularly, as the approach would lead to the finest specimen we have of the Grecian style of building, now nearly finished, in which both architectural skill, and correct taste are very eminently displayed: On such a supposition, let us see what the Art under discussion could accomplish.

In the First place, were the Art freely to operate, the luxuriant belt of young wood, which adjoins the Bridge, and is from fifteen to eighteen years' growth, might be doubled in breadth at this spot, by means of the Transplanting Machine, and a close skreen of wood be created opposite the Gate, by the same powerful means of operating. Secondly, the site of the Gate might be removed, from the end of the Bridge, at least two hundred yards nearer the Town of Hamilton; as, according to the present plan, the effect of the Gate, and of its accompaniments would be marred and overlaid, by the heavy parapets of the bridge. Thirdly, the Lodge might be in the Grecian style, but of a low, rather than a lofty character, as the situation requires; it might be set back, a hundred feet at least, off the turnpikeroad; that is, allowing thirty feet from the Lodge to the line of the Gate and open Railing, and eighty for the breadth of the External Plantation. The two internal woody Margins of grassground on each side of the Coach-road, might be sixty feet

broad, and the distance between the standard Trees, or grovewood, scattered over these, and also over the Grass-plat outside the railing, not less than twenty-five feet, with Copse or Underwood in the intervals. The Trees, on the whole of the open ground, should, in that case, be about thirty feet high, and carefully selected, for different styles of effect.

The whole of the above might easily be finished, by means of the Transplanting Machine, so as to produce Immediate Effect, within three weeks after the Lodge was built, and would be one of the most novel and picturesque Park-Entrances in the Island; the Lodge being sufficiently seen, to attract admiration and curiosity, and yet sufficiently massed up, and broken into parts by the wood, to afford a delightful subject for an Artist's pencil.

I have certainly great reason to ask forgiveness of my noble friend, the owner of this splendid subject; who will, no doubt, be surprised at my presuming thus to "cut and carve” upon his property, and, above all, at my appearing to obtrude, on his princely residence, gratuitous and fanciful improvements. But he, who possesses (including the romantic grounds of Chatelherault) beyond question the finest Park in the kingdom, in every sense of the term, must agree to consider its beauties as in some sort national property, and its embellishment as a subject, in which every man feels, or fancies he feels an interest, and may speculate on at pleasure. In such a view, it seemed desirable here, that the public taste should be directed to this style of External planting, in laying out Park-Entrances, which might be considerably diversified both in form and extent; and thus it would tend to do away that dulness and monotony, which have too justly been attributed to them. Besides, it is obvious, that such improvements (if they merit the name), could never be so well illustrated, or so powerfully recommended to general imitation, as by the example of the Park at Hamilton, should they chance to be adopted at that place.

NOTE IV. Page 322.

Although, from the estimate given in the text, it appears, that, by the common method of planting, Park-wood may be obtained at thirteen times the expense of wood, obtained at once by the Transplanting Machine, yet I believe, if full justice were done to the comparative statement, that the superiority of the latter would appear still greater.

There are many items, which have been omitted here, that would tell surprisingly in a correct estimate. For example; Independently of the immediate and picturesque effect of the removed Trees, on which no value has been put, there is great beneficial effect, for which something considerable should have been allowed; first, in the direct Shelter given to the ground by this plantation; and secondly, by the immediately encreased value in Pasture, in consequence of the grass-produce round each Tree, to a wide distance, being doubled. This the manuring and pulverizing of the soil, at the time of planting, completely brought about, in the instance adduced; and, as those enriched spaces nearly touch, the pasture of the entire ground planted was fairly doubled, and must continue so for many years, until the roots exhaust the ground, or the branches overshadow it. On the other hand, although the expense of renewing the railing has been stated, yet no charge is made for keeping up the fence, for thirty years. Other items might be mentioned, such as the inconsiderable value of the thinnings of the wood, under this head; because the opening up must be performed at an early period, and continued to wide distances, on account of the severe exposure of the site, and the conferring, on the Trees that are to remain, the Protecting Properties.

The truth is, it is utterly impossible to procure that profusion of Park-wood, which is desirable round a nobleman's or gentleman's residence, at a moderate cost, except by the Transplanting Machine. The ordinary modes of planting in very large masses, and afterwards cutting out the wood required, cannot be done without immense expense. But the reason why the ex

pense, when laid out, often escapes observation, is, because it is laid out gradually, during a long course of years, and is therefore seldom paid by one generation. Perhaps the better way would be, to adopt the late Mr White's system, and plant the entire surface. That would be a bold experiment, where much revenue was to be sacrificed, although I have little doubt that it would pay to the second generation, if Larch were made the staple of the wood. Yet two generations could perhaps not easily be found, who would consent, either to sink so large a capital, as must inevitably be sunk, if the land were valuable, or to live for thirty or forty years, in the midst of a Forest.

NOTE V. Page 328.

I regret lately to learn, that this gentleman, in the severe summer of last year (1826), had the misfortune to lose a good many of his Trees, from not being aware of the necessity of watering abundantly, during the first season, and securing the roots with Shows or Moss, against the drought. Although half a century might pass away, in our variable climate, without the recurrence of a similar season, yet I think it of some importance to state, in this place, what happened to my own Trees of that year, as it gives a strong view of the value of After-work (which has been fully treated in the foregoing Section), and shows, that it is as deserving of the Planter's notice, as any part of the process of removing Wood.

During the spring, which preceded this truly tropical summer, that is, in February and March 1826, I transplanted about a hundred and ten Trees, partly in close woods, and partly in the open park, from twenty-five to thirty feet high. Within three weeks after being planted, they were carefully watered, and covered with Shows, after the manner directed in Section X. By the end of May, we were forced to commence our summer Watering of the roots. That of the tops was never attempted; nor was it necessary, from the copious dews, which fell during the night. And, as there is great command of water