340 Sir Henry Sfetiart's Pla?itcr''s Guide. 



young trees or plants, and trees more advanced in growth. 

 Experience has proved it to be perfectly proper to reduce the 

 roots and branches of young plants according to expediency; 

 as, when judiciously performed according to the species of 

 plant and iiind of soil to be planted, the form and immediate 

 growth of the young plant are improved by that treatment : but, 

 for trees of large growth, in which the reproductive vital 

 power is diminished, it is only to quote Sir Henry Steuart's 

 principles and practice of the art, to show the ruinous conse- 

 quences of lessening a single fibre or the bud of a leaf in the 

 process of transplanting. 



It is justly remarked, at p. 144., that " a certain portion of 

 heat, that is, of shelter, is very indispensable to trees during 

 infancy, in order that, when their organs are matured and 

 their strength established, they may withstand the effects of a 

 cold, bleak exposure. Hence, to set them out prematurely, 

 is, to a certainty, to paralyse their energies, and check the 

 developement of their parts." This is a most correct view of 

 an important part of the planter's art, and leads to a cor- 

 rection, generally, of that erroneous idea, that poor soils 

 should be supplied with plants from beds of poor soil. That 

 plants with large, or full, healthy, vigorous sap-vessels, are 

 better fitted to resist the bad effects of a poor soil and un- 

 favourable exposure for the first years of transplanted growth, 

 than a plant from a poor soil, with narrow contracted sap- 

 vessels, or of sickly stinted structure, the invariable con- 

 sequence of a poor soil and exposure to plants in their first 

 stage of growth, has been so fully proved by experience, as to 

 be now no matter of doubt by those who have made trial of 

 the two modes. 



The suggestions, at p. 355. et seq., for the formation of an 

 arboricultural society are highly interesting; and there can 

 be no doubt of the beneficial effects that would result from 

 the labours of such a society, if properly constituted. 



In conclusion, I beg to observe that the good taste of the 

 spirited proprietor of Hartham Park, H. H. Joy, Esq., has 

 induced him to ornament a new addition to his park by the 

 immediate effect of wood, according to Sir Henry Steuart's 

 system, so as to make it correspond with the old park, which 

 is distinguished by fine groups and single trees, and, as he has 

 honoured me with the commission of carrying his views on 

 this point into execution, I may probably have the pleasure to 

 revert again to the subject, particularly with regard to the 

 success of the practice in that part of England. 



I am, Sir, &c. 

 Nexo Cross Nurseries, Jiine, 1828. G. Sinclair. 



