CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. 



the eye. The only plan of avoiding this inelegance 

 is to exclude browsing animals altogether from 

 ornamental grounds ; but this is attended with 

 opposite evils, and takes away that pleasing 

 assemblage of forms which is the great charm of 

 woodland scenery. Where cattle or sheep are 

 permitted to browse, all young trees at least 

 must be protected by circular palings, other- 

 wise they would be barked, and generally de- 

 stroyed. 



Trees increase in thickness fastest when they 

 have about two-thirds of their entire height covered 

 with branches during the whole period that they 

 are increasing in height ; these ought to be 

 diminished to between one-half and one-third of 

 the height for a top, according to the sheltered or 

 exposed situation they may be in, care being taken 

 not to draw them up too fast, and then allow 

 them to get top-heavy, as this would bring 

 on too much strain both on root and stem, which 

 in soft soils is very injurious to the tree. Every 

 tree has its own habit ; and the pruner must in a 

 great measure adapt himself to the habit of the 

 tree he has to deal with, and not force it into 

 any shape which may please his fancy. We can 

 only assist nature in her operations. One tree, 

 such as the poplar, has a natural tendency to keep 

 to one leading shoot, and to keep its branches 

 within a comparatively narrow space ; while the 

 oak has the opposite tendency, if left to nature : 

 its habit is to have a short stem with a wide- 

 spreading top, which may be a beautiful object in 

 certain situations, but certainly not profitable as a 

 timber-tree. Pruning is so closely connected 

 with, and dependent on judicious thinning, that 

 attention to it is of great consequence ; for to thin 

 the trees to wide distances will cause them to 

 throw out strong side-branches, and this creates 

 additional work to the pruner j but by keeping the 

 trees pretty thick on the ground, the branches 

 are confined within reasonable limits, and conse- 

 quently kept from increasing to a large size. It is 

 best, by thinning and pruning, to keep the trees 

 standing quite clear of each other, to allow free 

 circulation of air, and admit the light all round 

 them both of which are essential agents in the 

 growth of trees ; and by this means keep the trees 

 in a healthy growing state, and prevent the 

 branches from becoming large, which always 

 detracts from the value of timber, except where 

 bends and knees are formed fit for ship-building. 

 The tools used in pruning are a strong pocket- 

 knife, hand-saw, a saw with the teeth reversed, a 

 chisel, and the pruning-shears ; the last three are 

 fixed on long poles, and they save much loss of 

 time in climbing : for trees further advanced, a 

 ladder fourteen to eighteen feet will be found 

 necessary. 



Transplanting. 



When single trees are to be planted on a lawn, 

 a space of from four to six feet is stripped of the 

 turf, which is rolled back ; the soil within should 

 be deeply broken up and excavated, to receive the 

 full spread of the roots. A heap of rich loam or 

 compost is laid in the centre, on which the tree is 

 placed, and the roots are covered with the same, 

 and watered, to consolidate the earth about the 

 fibres. The other soil is then thrown on, and the 

 turf returned to its place and beaten down firmly. 

 Single trees should be staked ; and if on a pasture, 



606 



a cradle will be requisite to defend them from the 

 browsing or rubbing of cattle. 



Much has been written on the subject of trans- 

 planting large trees, and many successful exploits 

 of this kind have been performed both in past and 





M'Glashen's Transplanting Apparatus. 



present times. Shady groves have been formed 

 in the short space of a few months ; proving that, 

 with care, skill, and physical force properly 

 directed, any tree of moderate size may be trans- 

 planted with safety and success. One precaution 

 very much facilitates the execution : it is that of 

 digging a circular trench at a proper distance, say 

 six feet, round the trunk, and deep enough to be 



M'Nab Transplanting Machine. 



below, and to cut through all the roots except 

 three or four of the largest, which are left at equal 

 distances to act as spurs, for the better security of 

 the tree when placed in its new situation. The 

 trench, after the stumps of the roots are cut 

 smoothly off, is filled with prepared compost, for 



