470 The Journal of Forestry. 



still meet with so many instances of utter disregard to the rji.nm loci, 

 or requirements of the situation, and such want of judgment in locating 

 trees of large growth, that we miss the hand of the experienced 

 forester, and find that where the judgment of a consulting physician 

 was required, the work has been entrusted to an apothecary. Hap- 

 pily, however, we have outlived the age of formal rows of clipped 

 and contorted trees, which in their stiffness afforded a fitting back- 

 ground to the pedestals upon which were to be seen, surrounded by 



" Heathen goddesses most rare, 

 Homer, Plutarch, and Nebuchadnezzar, 

 All standing naked in the open air." 



The art of transplanting, or the removal of large trees for the 

 purpose of producing immediate effect, inasmuch as it requires 

 appliances in machinery and tools beyond those used in the ordinary 

 operations of the forester, requires to be separately treated. Under 

 the fostering care of Sir Henry Stewart, it assumed important dimen- 

 sions and attracted considerable notice. His success was undoubted, 

 and his practice as novel as it was startling. His operations were 

 conducted upon true scientific principles. The tree intended for an 

 exposed situation was carefully selected, and gradually cleared and 

 opened out, until it became hardened enough for removal. No 

 unnecessary trimming of roots or pollarding of the head was allowed ; 

 and, contrary to the present practice, what had been the leeward side 

 in its former situation was placed to the windward in the new 

 position. The result of this was most satisfactory, as the trees 

 required no artificial support of any kind. Mulching formed an im- 

 portant part of their after treatment, and watering and ramming at a 

 later period. The present practice of deluging with Avater every 

 transplant is open to grave objections. Its strongest advocates 

 appear to have sat at the feet and imbibed the ideas of the philan- 

 thropic Count Romford, who, in experimenting upon the food of the 

 poor, made the economical discovery that water contained a con- 

 siderable quantity of nutritive aliment. Sir Henry's success supplied 

 a practical answer to the question of Macbeth, — 



" Who can impress the forest — bid the tree 

 Unfix his earth-bound root ? " 



{To he continued.) 



tM 



/^ 



