40 Withers on Planting. 



Withers, W. jun., Esq., of Holt, Norfolk, Author of a Memoir on Planting 

 and Rearing Forest Trees, &c. (reviewed Gard. Mag.,\o\.\\. p. 75.): 

 A Letter to Sir Walter Seott, Bart., exposing certain fundamental Errors 

 in his lute Essay on the Planting of Waste Land; showing, from the State 

 of one of tiie Public Forests and otherwise, the great Loss and Disap- 

 pointment generally attending the Scotch Style of Planting ; and giving 

 several Proofs of the Success and certain Profit which follow the more 

 liberal and natural System recommended by the Author : and containing 

 Observations on the Distance at which Trees should be planted ; and Com- 

 munications to the Author, from Gentlemen of experience on the Sub- 

 ject of Pruning and Thinning Plantations ; concluding with Maxims for 

 profitable Planting. London. 8vo, pp. 155. 4s. 



The passage which has given rise to this pamphlet, has been quoted in a 

 former page (Vol.IIL p. 350.), and accompanied by one or two remarks which 

 prove that we entirely agree with Mr. Withers on the importance of a pre- 

 vious preparation of the soil. Mr. Withers goes into the subject at length, 

 and with an enthusiasm, which has perhaps led him to be less courteous to 

 Sir Walter Scott, than he should have been to a writer so entirely imbued 

 with good feeling, and so universally admired and respected. The follow- 

 ing passage will at once convey an idea of the manner and the matter of 

 the Memoir : — 



" We are all. Sir Walter, doomed to have our tempers put to severe 

 trials. I have often, on hearing a man of talent state in a confident and 

 authoritative manner, that which I knew, and he ought to have known, to 

 be untrue or erroneous, — I have often, on such occasions, had some dif- 

 ficultj' in restraining myself from giving a rather uncourteous expression to 

 my feelings ; and I acknowledge, that, on reading the paragraph above- 

 quoted, an exclamation involuntarily burst forth, which, for the sake of good 

 manners, I should be very sorry should appear upon paper. I have endea- 

 voured to subdue these feelings ; but there is, even at this time, something 

 at my tongue's end, which it is said was frequently to be seen quivering 

 upon the late Lord Thurlow's lip, when he was sitting on the bench of jus- 

 tice. However, I have now found relief; and as it is far from my intention 

 or wish to give you any personal offence, I will content myself with observ- 

 ing, that, although these opinions of yours are quite at variance with the 

 principles which govern vegetation, with the authority of our best writers, 

 and opposed, not only to my own experience, but to the evidence of innu- 

 merable facts which force themselves upon our observation in every part of 

 tJiis kingdom, I am willing to attribute your promulgation of them to your 

 not being sufficiently acquainted with the subject on which you were 

 writing. 



" You admit, that in the * earlier days ' of a plantation upon prepared 

 land, ' the plant enjoys the benefit of having its roots placed amongst earth 

 which has been rendered loose and penetrable,' and that it ' will rush up 

 with unusual rapidity.' Do you consider this rushing growth healthy, and 

 vigorous, and endurable ? Or do you think it is like the forced spirits of 

 the opium-eater, which are excited only to produce a corresponding de- 

 pression ? I contend, that a tree so growing will not only acquire, but 

 maintain, a great superiority over one that is planted on an unprepared 

 soil : and that its numerous and vigorous roots and luxuriant branches will 

 enable it to receive food, which the poor feeble offspring of the Scotch sys- 

 tem can never acquire. And is it possible that such a plant should be so 

 arrested in its progress, on its roots reaching the subsoil, that its puny and 

 stunted competitor should equal it in ten or twelve years? The idea is 

 monstrous. Why, Sir Walter, the former will be a better plant at the age 

 of twelve years than the latter, if it can be kept alive, will be at thirty-five ; 



