*• 360 



dual slope, to the margin of the Atlantic. In this situation, his trees 

 are severely exposed to the western and south-western gales, which 

 though mitigated in some sort by the skreen of Ireland, occasion hb 

 single and detached trees to lean in a remarkable manner to the east and 

 north-east, and become objects of defoniiity, rather than beauty. This, 

 he said, was the case with the whole of them, that had not been thinned 

 out from old grove-wood, and which for a considerable time had had 

 the benefit of shelter. 



I advised him, in all prominent or favourite situations, in the vicinity 

 of the mansion-house, of approaches, or the like (where the trees were 

 otherwise of fine figure, and of no very great size, that is, not exceed- 

 ing from six to eight feet in girth), to loosen them in the ground, as if 

 for removal, according to the method practised here ; raising the ball or 

 mass of earth round the stem, and with it the turf unbroken, nine feet 

 out from the stem at the least ; and endeavouring beyond that distance, 

 for seven or eight feet more (according to circumstances), to preserve 

 the whole of the roots, if possible, and especially the minute fibres 

 entire, in extricating them from the ground. In this way, in good 

 rooting-ground, he would have roots sixteen or seventeen feet long of a 

 side. As soon as the tree was pulled down, and that the depth or thick- 

 ness of the mass, or ball of earth could he ascertained, I further advi- 

 sed, that the bottom of it should be worked as flat as possible, even 

 should some downward or perpendicular shoots suffer in the operation ; 

 when, if there were the slightest declivity in the ground (as generally 

 happens towards the exposed side), the ball or mass might be wheeled 

 round on its hottom the entire circle^ and thus the position of the branch- 

 es be completely reversed. 



During this process, it is to be observed, that the most favourable 

 opportunity would be afforded, supposing the land to be of a shallow 

 description, to extend the pabulum of the tree, by the introduction of fresh 

 mould, and suitable compost, during the replanting. No lightening or 

 mutilating of the top or lateral branches would here be necessary ; 

 because the person directing the work would necessarily take care to 

 ascertain, before its commencement, the proper extent of the excavation, 

 and the due length of the roots and fibres, so as to proportion the roots 

 to the ivants of the top. Were this process conducted with tolerable 

 judgment, and according to the directions given in the present Treatise, 

 I ventured to promise the owner, and I think not rashly, that with expert 

 workmen, and at the expense of from 15s. to 20s. per tree, he might 

 substitute a very handsome, for a very unsightly object. In a few years 

 likewise, it would happen, that ihc tree would be beautifully balanced, 



