262 SCIENCE IN SHORT CHAPTERS. 



impoverished soil and the terrible neglect of timely thin- 

 ning fifty or sixty years ago. 



Knowing the sensitiveness of the public regarding tree- 

 cutting, Mr. Adam obtained the co-operation of a commit- 

 tee of experts, consisting of Sir Joseph Hooker, Mr. 

 Glutton, and Mr. Thomas, " so distinguished 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 towards those who are re- 

 sponsible. 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 possess sufficient knowledge of agricultural chem- 

 istry 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 composed of two classes of material: 1st, 

 the carbon and elements of water derived from air and rain ; 

 and 2d, the nitrogenous and incombustible saline com- 

 pounds 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 incom- 

 bustible ash, when we burn a leaf, is so much matter taken 

 out of the soil. Every scientific agriculturist knows that 



