46 THOREA U. 



Loudon says that &quot; when the nut [of the common 

 walnut of Europe] is to be preserved through the 

 winter for the purpose of planting in the following 

 spring, it should be laid in a rot-heap, as soon as 

 gathered, with the husk on, and the heap should be 

 turned over frequently in the course of the winter.&quot; 



Here, again, he is stealing Nature s &quot; thunder.&quot; 

 How can a poor mortal do otherwise ? for it is she 

 that finds fingers to steal with, and the treasure to be 

 stolen. In the planting of the seeds of most trees, 

 the best gardeners do no more than follow Nature, 

 though they may not know it. Generally, both large 

 and small ones are most sure to germinate, and suc 

 ceed best, when only beaten into the earth with the 

 back of a spade, and then covered with leaves or 

 straw. These results to which planters have arrived 

 remind us of the experience of Kane and his com 

 panions at the North, who, when learning to live in 

 that climate, were surprised to find themselves steadily 

 adopting the customs of the natives, simply becoming 

 Esquimaux. So, when we experiment in planting 

 forests, we find ourselves at last doing as Nature 

 does. Would it not be well to consult with Nature 

 in the outset ? for she is the most extensive and ex 

 perienced planter of us all, not excepting the Dukes 

 of Athol. 1 



In short, they who have not attended particularly 

 to this subject are but little aware to what an extent 

 quadrupeds and birds are employed, especially in the 

 fall, in collecting, and so disseminating and planting 

 the seeds of trees. It is the almost constant employ 

 ment of the squirrels at that season, and you rarely 



1 The Dukes of Athol, in Scotland, were famous for their 

 plantations of trees. 



