336 



As this is a question of some moment, and has divided the most judi- 

 cious writers and planters for a century back, it must be interesting to 

 the young planter to have a concise smnmary of the evidence, as fur- 

 nished by our best writers, on the one side, and on the other, such as 

 may assist him to determine which is most consonant to rational theory, 

 supported and enforced by the best practice. 



Miller, no mean authority as an arboriculturist, says (as we have seen),- 

 that no trees transplanted, and especially the oak, will ever pwdute such 

 valuable timber, as those raised from the seed. Marshall, as we have 

 seen also, prefers sowing the seed, wherever the ground is capable of 

 being worked with the plough. Evelyn, Emmerich, and though last, 

 not least, the intelligent Speechly, are of the same opinion, although 

 Speechly^s extensive pratice was sometimes at variance with this senti- 

 ment. Nicol and Pontey have practised both methods extensively, and 

 they offer no arguments against sowings where situation and circum- 

 stances admit. Sang, who in point of practical sltill is not inferior to 

 any of these writers, says ; "It is an opinion very generally entertained, 

 that planted timber can never in any case be equal in durability and 

 value to that -which is sown. We certainly feel ourselves inclined to 

 support this opinion, although we readily admit, that the matter has not 

 been so fully established by experiment, as to amount to positive proof. 

 But, although we have not met with decided evidence, to determine (m 

 the comparative excellence of timber raised from the seed, without 

 being replanted, over such as has been raised from replanted trees, we 

 are left in no doubt as to the preference in respect to groivth of those 

 trees which are sown, over such trees as are planted." — Planter's Ca- 

 lendar, p. 43. The same writer prefers, and with great justice, this 

 mode of raising the Scotch pine, and the larch. 



The late Dr. Yule, an able botanist, in an excellent paper, which he 

 gave to the Horticultural Society of Edinburgh (for want, as he re- 

 marked to me, of a more appropriate body to which he might conmiu- 

 nicate it), strongly recommends the sovdng of seeds, for permanent 

 plantations. " It is a well ascertained fact (he says), that seedlings 

 allowed to remain in their original station, will, in the course of a few 

 seasons, far overtop common nursed plants, which are several years 

 older. This principle, however, is of course strictly applicable to 

 forest-timber trees. Where shelter or ornament is speedily wanted, 

 the transplanting of grown trees, laying, budding, inarching, and other 

 means must consequently be substituted." — Horticult. Mem. Vol. II. 

 pp. 418, 419. 



The ingenious author of the Encycloi)cdia of Agriculture, on impartially 



