Strictures on Steuarfs Planter's Guide. 91 



with any thing about them.' Of this sentiment, Sir Henry says, « The 

 justness of the remark cannot be questioned.' 



" In some such perplexing circumstances Sir Henry must have been 

 when he cried out, ' The truth is, vegetable physiology is in itself an ob- 

 scure subject ! ' He might have added, without any great deviation from 

 truth, that the removal of large trees is, in many instances, extremely pre- 

 carious. 



" In evidence of the uncertainty of success, we could produce abundance 

 of examples in Allanton Park, this very season (1829). At that place, on 

 the west side of the lake, where the water discharges itself, the bank has 

 been wooded last winter or spring ; and there may have been some 80 or 

 100 trees, of various sizes and ages, planted there, almost every one of 

 which looks ill, while a good number of the largest are quite dead." 



We pass over several pages which might be advantageously quoted, and con- 

 clude with the review of the Committee of the Highland Society, than which 

 we have not met with a more striking detection of error and exposure of ab- 

 surdity for a long time. " The expense of removing large trees is an important 

 consideration in the machining system. Mr. Meason of Lindertis, one of the 

 members of the Highland Society Committee, gives an account of the 

 transplantation of two trees in his presence at Allanton Park, the one 28 

 and the other 32 ft. high, and from 30 to 36 in. in girth. (Planter's Guide, 

 p. 525.) The expense of lifting and replanting the two was 15s., so that 

 each tree cost Is. 6d; but there are several items in the account unfortu- 

 nately overlooked or omitted. He does not inform us whether the trees 

 had been replanted lately before, not an unfrequent circumstance at Al- 

 lanton, though a material one as regards the expense ; and the account of 

 expense includes only the more obvious cost, the men's wages, overlooking 

 altogether the pair of horses, the driver, &c. 



" Indeed, Sir Henry himself, in giving his statements to the public, makes 

 some very strange omissions and miscalculations, involving very absurd re- 

 sults. In examining this matter, we shall quote his words (Planter's Guide, 

 p. 356.) : ' In looking up the lake, the reader will observe a bold promon- 

 tory or headland, situate on the right hand side, near the bridge, which was 

 seen by the Committee of the Highland Society. This prominent spot was 

 wooded by an open disposition of trees, twenty-two in number, and consist- 

 ing mostly of sycamores, with a few oaks and elms interspersed. A few 

 bushes which are close to the water-edge, have recently been added. 



" ' The dimensions of the trees were from 25 to 28 ft. high ; and, as the 

 situation was one of very open exposure to the west, care was taken to 

 select such subjects as possessed, in a considerable degree, all the protect- 

 ing properties. This plantation was executed in nine days, by nine work- 

 men, and a horse to draw the machine, the distance not much exceeding a 

 quarter of a mile. The expense, which amounted to 10s. a tree, is as 

 under : — 



9 workmen, 8 days - - 



1 horse and driver, 15 days 

 Dung, compost, 44 loads, at 9d. 



<£ll 8 

 " ' Now,' he goes on, ' we shall suppose that the art of giving immediate 

 effect to wood had been altogether unknown to me, and that I had wished 

 to procure 22 fine trees, for so prominent a situation, by the ordinary sys- 

 tem of planting : the first thing I should have had to do, according to the 

 most speedy method, would have been to enclose, trench, and manure the 

 ground for a green crop, and to plant it with nursery plants of four or five 

 years' growth. The next thing would have been to keep it with the hoe for 

 two years, until the plants shoot freely, which they were likely to do within 

 that period ; and, after about thirty years in this climate, the whole would 



£6 







3 15 







1 13 







