Transplanting of Trees 317 



comparatively few branches except at the top, smooth and 

 thin bark, and they are scantily provided with roots, but 

 especially with the small fibres so essentially necessary to 

 insure the growth of the tree when transplanted. Those, 

 on the other hand, which stand isolated, have short thick 

 stems,' numerous branches, thick bark, and great abundance 

 of root and small fibres. The latter, accustomed to the full 

 influence of the weather, to cold winds as well as open sun- 

 shine have what Sir Henry Steuart has aptly denominated 

 the "protecting properties," well developed; being robust 

 and hardy, they are well calculated to endure the violence 

 of the removal, while trees growing in the midst of a wood 

 sheltered from the tempests by their fellows, and scarcely 

 ever receiving the sun and air freely except at their topmost 

 branches, are too feeble to withstand the change of situa- 

 tion, when removed to an open lawn, even when they are 

 carefully transplanted. 



"Of trees in open exposures," says Sir Henry, "we find 

 that their peculiar properties contribute, in a remarkable 

 manner, to their health and prosperity. In the first place, 

 their shortness and greater girth of stem, in contradistinc- 

 tion to others in the interior of woods, are obviously in- 

 tended to give the former greater strength to resist the 

 winds, and a shorter lever to act upon the roots. Secondly, 

 their larger heads, with spreading branches, in consequence 

 of the free access of light, are as plainly formed for the 

 nourishment as well as the balancing of so large a trunk, and 

 also for furnishing a cover to shield it from the elements. 

 Thirdly, their superior thickness and induration of bark is, 

 in like manner, bestowed for the protection of the sap-ves- 

 sels, that lie immediately under it, and which, without such 

 defence from cold, could not perform their functions. 

 Fourthly, their greater number and variety of roots are for 

 the double purpose of nourishment and strength; nourish- 

 ment to support a mass of such magnitude, and strength 

 to contend with the fury of the blast. Such are the obvious 

 purposes for which the unvarying characteristics of trees in 

 open exposures are conferred upon them. Nor are they 



