75 



years, they were removed to a second nursery ; on which 

 occasion, extraordinary care was taken to prune, dress, and 

 shorten the roots. Tiicrc they stood, two and three feet 

 distant, for three or four years more. A third nursery, at 

 still more open order, next received them, for a like space of 

 time. A fourth, a fifth, and even a sixth removal succeeded, 

 leaving the plants no less than ten and twelve feet asunder, 

 but increasing in strength and symmetry, still more than 

 they increased in height. At each and all of these reiterated 

 removals, the roots as well as the branches were shortened 

 and pruned, with extraordinary accuracy, and every attention 

 was bestowed, to multiply and invigorate the former. When 

 twenty feet high, or more, and of fifteen and sixteen years 

 growth, the plants were supposed to be ready for ultimate 

 removal, by conveying them, on men's shoulders, to their 

 permanent destinations. By this elaborate course of train- 

 ing and disciphne, all mutilation of the tops was to be avoided ; 

 and in this way he hoped so judiciously to second, and even 

 direct the efforts of nature, as should render violence useless, 

 and effectually preclude the errors, which haste or ignorance 

 had hitherto committed.* 



It is to be regretted, that this theory, which is suffi- 

 ciently ingenious, is impossible to be applied to any practical 

 purpose, although it contains valuable lessons for the planter 

 of reflection. The time alone, which would be required for 

 its completion, and the tedious preparation, and consequent 

 expense incurred by the process (supposing it were even more 

 faultless than it is), have prolmbly prevented its being at- 

 tempted by any one, except the ingenious projector. 



Besides this, Boutcher had another plan, on which he 

 seems to have highly valued himself, for removing trees of 

 a large size, that " had stood long in woods and nurseries." 

 But the very terms of this proposition, in as far as it regards 



''^ Treatise on Forest Trees, p- 14 — 17, &c. 



