No. 199.] 493 



As to manure for grape vines ; compost manure in Avliich sods are 

 put J the refuse mortar of old houses ; the whole heap saturated with 

 the urine of the stables ; some bone ; some phosphate of soda ; leaves 

 of trees especially of the vines themselves. Trees will thrive with 

 the same treatment. There is such a thing as over manuring ; w'e 

 should be careful of that, for trees growing in our rich soil, grow too 

 rank ; their pores are too large and full of fluid, they hardly bear frost 

 which bursts them. I have tried a section of wood so grown, when 

 it was dry, and I could blow out a candle, by blowing through the 

 pores of it. 



Mr. Meigs observed, that when we select a spot for our dwelling, 

 barns, &c., it rarely happens that the right kind of trees are found 

 growing in the desirable positions ; so that we commonly behold a new 

 habitation surrounded with young saplings just set out, giving the mel- 

 ancholy prospect of the old age, or the death of the owner, before the 

 trees have reached half their proper size. By proper methods, that 

 owner could have commenced the transplanting of such trees as he 

 chose at the same time he did building the house. He would place 

 them, some near his dwelling, some at the Ham, &c. Human life is 

 too short to grow large trees. 



Judge Van Wyck. — Exact methods for transplanting the various 

 kinds of trees, ought to be generally understood. I have observed 

 that some persons cut off too much of the top and root ; thereby 

 cutting off its means of growth and life ; many leaves are absolutely 

 required upon a tree, in order to elaborate the sap which nourishes it. 

 The sap ascends from the earth through the roots to the tree, thence 

 upwards until it reaches the leaves, there it is elaborated for the use 

 of the tree, then descends to the roots. In Europe, they have safely 

 transplanted trees of forty feet high, by three or four feet in circum- 

 ference to places bare of trees, thus beautifying the before naked surface 

 forthwith. They mutilate the top and roots as little as possible. 



Dr. Underbill. — We proportion the cutting off the tops to that of 

 the roots. 



