222 LITERATURE OF SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURE. 



In 1677, appeared an elaborate folio from the pen of one John 

 Johnston, " Medical Doctor," entitled " Historia Naturalis de Ar- 

 boribus," in ten books. This work is, however, devoted more to 

 fruit culture than to a descriptive narrative of tree-growing. Its 

 illustrations, contained in a separate folio of 137 plates, are most 

 accurately and beautifully engraved in copperplate, and contain 

 examples of sections of stem, leaves, fruit, seeds, mostly life-size, 

 with the botanical names attached. But although the major part 

 of the work is devoted to pomological subjects, attention is also 

 given to dendrological ; and shrubs, heaths, and flowers are also 

 delineated. This book cannot, however, be regarded as any autho- 

 rity at the present time, or as having attracted much attention 

 even in its own time. It is rather a reflex of the view held of 

 such objects as subjects of illustration to botanical students of the 

 time. 



In 1724, was published a translation, by John James of Green- 

 wich, of a French work published in Paris in 1720 by Le Blond, 

 styled " The Theory and Practice of Gardening." It is a quarto 

 volume, and the subject matter is divided into four parts. This 

 book may be called the book of the garden of that period, and like 

 more modern treatises, it enlarges upon laying out and adorning of 

 grounds, pleasure walks, and gardens, giving detailed plans and 

 drawings of the designs recommended. The third part of the 

 volume, however, on account of which alone it is noticeable in 

 this paper, is devoted to the choice of trees and their treatment in 

 policy and ornamental plantations. Le Blond describes with much 

 minuteness the methods of planting, the care to be taken of the 

 young plants, and their protection from insects and vermin ; the 

 treatment of nurseries, and of flowering shrubs. He also discourses 

 of hedges, and planting them, and of many other objects in use for 

 ornamental effect in and around country residences. While the 

 book is written more especially for the better climate of France and 

 south of England, there are many useful hints equally adapted to 

 profit and instruct planters and those engaged in laying out orna- 

 mental plantations in our own more northern latitude. The book ' 

 became an authority in its time and for long afterwards, although, 

 owing to the unfortunate rebellions and civil wars with which this 

 country was shortly afterwards visited, little attention was then 

 given for fully half a century to such peaceful arts as those of 

 arboricrdture. 



We now approach a blank chapter in the bistory of the literature 



