SOLON ROBINSON, 1849 313 



to hold together, each tree was ready to be moved. He 

 then took a pair of timber wheels, the tongue of which 

 was hitched behind a wagon ; and when backed up to the 

 tree that was to be moved, the tongue was loosened and 

 turned up into the tree top, and firmly lashed; and the 

 trunk of the tree was bound to the axle, taking care to 

 protect against bruising. The tongue was next hauled 

 down and fastened, and the roots elevated, by this easy 

 process, clear of the ground. When the place was reached 

 where the tree was required to flourish, the wheels were 

 backed up to the hole, which was previously dug, the 

 fastenings cast off, and the whole tree allowed to settle 

 in the position it was required to grow. 



Protecting and Keeping Roots Moist. — I was struck 

 with the manner that this was done effectually, while it 

 added much to the looks of the work. After the ground 

 is well smoothed off and made firm, a coat of coarse hay, 

 or straw, several inches thick, is spread over the surface, 

 and some small poles laid on so as to radiate evenly from 

 the trunk; then other poles are bent around to form a 

 rim, like a wheel, and all fastened down by wooden hooks. 

 This, besides being of great advantage to the tree, rather 

 adds variety to its appearance, instead of marring it by 

 a view of the naked earth at its base. 



Other Improvements. — The front fence is a solid wall 

 of granite, which I much prefer to iron, where stone is 

 abundant, and needs to be got rid of, or appropriated in 

 some other way. Mr. M. has expended some $16,000 in 

 his house and grounds, but it is one of those common- 

 sense improvements that will always command a return 

 when required ; and it is certainly a much more rational 

 way for a gentleman to expend his money, in providing, 

 as he has done for a lovely family, a lovely home, than it 

 is to hoard it up, and spend a life of discomfort in an 

 uncomfortable house, or mewed up in close quarters in 

 some brick and mortar street. 



I cannot close without adding a due meed of praise to 

 Mr. Mudge, for another expenditure which he has made 



