Memoirs of the Caledonian HoHicuUural Society. 441 



tion. Around the outsides of the ch'cles dig trenches 2\ ft. 

 ■wide, and so deep as to be 6 in. below the general run of the 

 horizontal roots. Use a fork, so as to presel've the roots 

 which may be met with in the trench as entire as possible. 

 " When we have got completely under the tree in one quarter 

 of the circle^ it is necessary to tie those roots together which 

 have been cleared of the earth, and to cover them with a mat, 

 lest they should be injured by being exposed to the air before 

 we have got round the rest of the tree. If the ground happen 

 to be of a gravelly nature, a short-handled pick will be necessary 

 in undermining the roots. In this manner we proceed till the 

 whole of the I'oots be completely cleai'ed. If the tree have 

 several contending tops, cut off all except the most promising; 

 and if the branches be very numerous, thin them moderately 

 in proportion to the number of the roots." 



In planting, place the leading top of the tree in that direc* 

 tion from which the strongest winds are found to blow. " The 

 position being fixed, we then proceed to fill in the best earth 

 for 1 ft. around the tree, up to the place from which the roots 

 first strike off, taking care to pack it firmly with the hands 

 under the tree, and to fill closely up all the vacuities between 

 the roots. During this operation, the person holding the 

 tree must be cautious that it be not shifted from its upright 

 position. The planter must keep his feet fixed in one position, 

 proceeding to lay out the undermost set of roots, as far as he 

 can reach with his hands, in a horizontal directions covering 

 them with 3 in. of earth ; and so proceed until he arrive at 

 those on the surface. We might have mentioned, that all 

 injured or broken roots must be cut out ; that the others 

 should be made smooth at the end as they are laid out ; and 

 that, if the smaller ones be numerous, a portion of them 

 should be cut off, and the rest carefully combed out. When 

 the roots are covered to within 1 in. of the level of the ground, 

 spread the whole with rotted tree leaves to the depth of 3 in. ; 

 over these again lay 2 in. in depth of the inferior mould, form- 

 ing a basin, according to the size of the circle, in the same 

 manner as for evergreens. In watering the trees, observe to 

 pour upon them from ten to twenty large pots of water, in 

 proportion to the size of the tree and the moistness of the 

 earth in the pit. 



" In the mode now described, I have, for thirty years pastj 

 been occasionally in the practice of transplanting forest trees 

 of various sizes, frequently more than 20 ft. high, and with 

 stems 1^-ft. in circumference; and I have diane so with per-* 

 feet success. I need scarcely add, that this was long before 

 I heard of the transplanting of trees at Allanton Park. 



