THE DYIKG TREES I2S" KEis'SIis'GTOK GARDENS. 263 



Knowing the sensitiveness of the public regarding tree-cutting, Mr. 

 Adam obtained the co-operation of a committee of experts, consisting 

 of Sir Joseph Hooker, Mr. Clutton, and Mr. Thomas, " so distin- 

 guished as a landscape gardener," and the late First Commissioner 

 of Works. They had several meetings, and, as Mr. Adam informs 

 us, " the result has been a unanimous resolution that we ought to 

 proceed at once to clear away the dead and dying trees." This is 

 being done to the extent of "an absolute clearance" in some places, 

 and the removal of numerous trees all over the gardens. We are 

 further told that " the spaces cleared will either be trenched, 

 drained, and replanted, or will be left open, as may appear best." 

 Mr. Adam adds that " the utmost care is being used in the work ; 

 that not a tree is being cut that can properly be spared ; and that 

 every effort will be made to restore life to the distinguished trees 

 that are dying." 



I have watched the proceedings in Kensington Gardens and also 

 in Bushey Park, and have considerable difficulty in describing the 

 agricultural vandalism there witnessed, and expressing my opinion 

 on it, without transgressing the bounds of conventional courtesy 

 toward those who are responsible. I do not refer to the cutting down 

 of the dead and dying trees, but to the proceedings by which they 

 have been officially and artificially killed by those who ought to pos- 

 sess sufficient knowledge of agricultural chemistry to understand the 

 necessary consequences of their conduct. 



About forty years have elapsed since Liebig taught to all who were 

 able and 'willing to learn, that trees and other vegetables are com- 

 posed of two classes of material : 1st, the carbon and elements of 

 water derived from air and rain; and 2d, the nitrogenous and incom- 

 bustible saline compounds derived from the soil. The possible 

 atmospheric origin of some of the nitrogen is still under debate, but 

 there is no doubt that all which remains behind as incombustible 

 ash, when we burn a leaf, is so much matter taken out of the soil. 

 Every scientific agriculturist knows that certain crops take away cer- 

 tain constituents from the soil, and that if this particular cropping 

 continues without a replacing of those particular constituents of fer- 

 tility, the soil must become barren in reference to the crop in ques. 

 tion, though other crops demanding different food may still grow 

 upon it. The agricultural vandalism that I have watched with so 

 much vexation is the practice of annually raking and sweeping to- 

 gether the fallen leaves, collecting them in barrows and carts, and then 

 carrying them quite away from the soil in which the trees are grow- 

 ing, or should grow. I have inquired of the men thus employed 

 whether they put anything on the ground to replace these leaves, and 

 they have not merely replied in the negative, but have been evidently 

 surprised at such a question being asked. What is finally done with 

 the leaves I do not know ; they may be used for the flower-beds or 

 sold to outside florists. I have seen a large heap accumulated near 

 to the Bound Pond. 



Now, the leaves of forest trees are just those portions containing 

 the largest proportion of ash ; or, otherwise stated, they do the most 

 in exhausting the soil. In Epping Forest, in the New Forest, and 

 other forests where there has been still more ' ' terrible neglect of 

 timely thinning," the trees continue to grow vigorously, and have 

 ttius grown for centuries ; the leaves fall on the soil wherein the 



