305 



cases superseded, by the superior weight of this load, and of 

 the earth superinduced on it. 



This, I imagine, or something similar to this, making a 

 fair allowance for difl'erences in persons, places, and circum- 

 stances, may convey a tolerable idea of the business of 

 transplanting, as practised in England for nearly two cen- 

 turies, and also in those districts of Scotland, in which the 

 English method is still followed. In some districts, one 

 species of machinery may be employed, and another in 

 others. Some planters may be more, and some less skilful, 

 and less accurate in their practice : but physical force 

 throughout, without phytological principle to guide the 

 process, together with the labour of many hands, and the 

 strength of ponderous implements, form the general 

 characteristics of this species of work. I have it from gen- 

 tlemen of high respectability, that from L.2 to Z«.5 is con- 

 sidered as no unusual or exorbitant sum to lay out, for the 

 removal of a tree of any size ; and even L.\0 and Z/.15 have 

 been many times paid. 



If there be any error or exaggeration in this cursory view 

 of the labour and cost of such \vork, as it is now carried on 

 in most parts of Britain, I entreat that the mistatement may 

 not be considered as intentional ; and it is, of course, open 

 to the candid correction of those, who possess superior in- 

 formation. I have no desire to magnify the merits of my 

 own system, at the expense of others, which have so long 

 been held in general esteem. But if the impartial reader 

 will compare it with the simple and rapid, but systematic 

 field-practice and still more simple machinery, which have 

 been delineated above at so much length, I trust it will not 

 be too much to say, that he will find the expense of trans- 

 planting to be reduced, by the Preservative method, 

 in any case to the one-half and in many cases to a third 

 and di fourth part of its present amount. 



Having now, in the course of this Essay, offered what 



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