120 Steiiarfs Planter'' s Guide. 



lake, of about 5 acres, never freezes : hence, perhaps, the 

 name Chaudfont ; though, in Doomsday Book it is called Cel- 

 funde, and now Chalfont. 



I might here tell of what I have heard has been done at 

 other places ; but as this would be only hearsay evidence, and 

 as Sir Plenry strenuously demands identical facts and in- 

 stances, I forbear, contenting myself with the foregoing (per- 

 haps over-long) detail, as one proof that transplanting large 

 trees and underwood has been more extensively practised than 

 Sir Henry, notwithstanding his assiduity to get information, 

 seems to have been aware of. Any traveller between London 

 and Aylesbury {via Uxbridge) may witness the truth of what 

 has been stated above. 



But I now come to do Sir Henry that credit which can- 

 dour and justice imperiously require. This can only be done 

 by a brief comparison ; and, as far as my experience and 

 knowledge of the process go, I feel bound to say, that all 

 our exertions in Buckinehamshire were altogether fortuitous. 



-VT - . • - . 



No previous preparation of either tree or its intended new 

 station ; no physiological principle to guide either our choice 

 of the object or our knife, except only what every gardener 

 intuitively knows ; no consideration as to past or futui'e po- 

 sition, save only the application of a very old British horticul- 

 tural rule, viz. leaning the head a little to the south-west: in 

 short, no system of operation whatever I But at Allanton the 

 reverse of all this is the case. Every operation is precon- 

 ceived, designed, and preordered. In this the excellence of 

 the "preservative system" consists; on this chiefly the suc- 

 cess depends ; and herein, with the practical adroitness of the 

 labourers, and careful exactness of manipulation, the supe- 

 rioi-ity of Sir Henry's practice appears. 



Every one must admire what Sir Henry has done ; every 

 one must thank him for the publication now before us ; and 

 many proprietors, whose mansions happen to be barely lo- 

 cated, will exult in following the example set them at Allanton 

 House. It is called the " preservative system;" and, in mv 

 humble opinion, not so much because it i?isures the life of a 

 ti'anslocated tree, but because it may preserve many a beautiful 

 plant, which, for the purposes of improving park scenery, may 

 he doomed to the axe. 



Henceforth the landscape-gardener will be vested with new 

 powers. The naked expanse may be quickly clothed; the 

 uninteresting flat varied ; deformities screened ; the rigid winds ^ 

 qualified or diverted ; and, above all, valuable intruders on 

 the view banished isoithout regret. Many a fine vista has been 

 blocked up, and many an interesting object shut out, for the 



