Book II. 



FORMING PLANTATIONS. 



643 



whole firmly down. Let the tree remain two years, or three 

 remove it, and carefully plant it where it is finally to remain. 



39i55. Sir Henry Steuart, who has had much experi- 

 ence in removing large trees, and who thinks that 

 he has discovered a new theory or principle for doing 

 so, recommends that no branches should be pruned 

 from the head ; and that to prevent the tree from 

 being blown over by the wind, its position rela- 

 tively to the prevailing wind of the locality should 

 be reversed. The principle of not reducing the 

 head in the same proi)ortion as the roots may 

 be reduced, was hinted at by Miller, but has been 

 first systematically defended by Sir Henry Steuart 

 Experienced planters agree, that nothing ought 

 to be cut from the head of a beech tree when it 

 is removed ; but they do not seem willing to con- 

 cede to Sir Henry's theory, so far as it respects 

 most other ramose trees. We are inclined to 

 think that he may be right with respect to resinous 

 trees, the beech, and perhaps one or two others ; 

 but that, as a general principle, whether in young 

 trees or old, the top must be lightened more or 

 less in proportion to the roots. When the tree 

 has made a stock of fresh roots, and become 

 firmly established in the soil, if an extraordinary 

 exertion in its growth be then wanted, it may 

 either be cut in or pruned severely, or cut down 

 to the ground ; and in either case, if it be a tree 

 that stools, it will throw out vigorous shoots. 



3956. The principle of reversing the position of 

 the tree relatively to the wind, ap})ears to be good ; 

 since, the broader the base of the head of the 

 tree relatively to its height, the more obliquely 

 will it receive the impulse of the wind. Those 

 trees are fittest for being transplanted, which 

 have grown in free open situations; because in 

 them the bark is thick and coarse to resist the 

 cold; the stems stout and short, and the head 

 extensive with the lower branches spreading, to 

 resist the wind. 



3957. The machine for transplanting large trees 

 adopted by Sir Henry Steuart, is an improvement 

 of one which has been very long in general use. 

 It consists of a pole (Jig. 592. a a) 15 feet long, 

 attached to an axle and a pair of wheels, on 

 which is placed a block (6), which may be of 

 any convenient height, with a pillow (c), and 

 two rings for attaching the draught chains (d). 

 It is easy to conceive the application of this 

 pole, axle, and wheels, to a large tree, and its 

 removal by men or horses to its intended desti- 

 nation {Jig. 59>). (^Planter's Guide, sect. viii. 2d 

 edit.) 



if very large, and then 



592 



