Supportifig of recently removed Trees. 445 



" Lapideum " as the amendment required. In Staffordshire 

 and Cheshire they are often called " stoneries.' It is said 

 the rockery in the Liverpool botanic garden consists of an 

 assemblage of masses of real rock, brought off various foreign 

 stations, as the ballast of ships, by seafaring gentlemen devoted 

 to the welfare of that garden. The rockery at Syon House is 

 composed of numerous large blocks of granite. — J. D.forCond. 



Art. VIII. On the Supporting of recently removed Trees. 

 By William Thom, Esq., Surgeon, Annan. 



Sir, 



Though the supporting of recently removed trees consti- 

 tutes a very essential and by far the most difficult part of the 

 operation of planting, yet but little is taught by authors on 

 the subject, and still less seems to have been learned by ope- 

 rators. 



Indeed, I am not aware that any efficient or scientific 

 method of retaining recently transplanted trees in the erect 

 position is at all known ; and, judging from the practice of our 

 most experienced planters, I consider myself entitled to con- 

 clude that no such knowledge exists. 



Sir Henry Steuart gives it as his opinion {Planter^ s Guide, 

 p. 112.) that "supports or props, whether composed of 

 wood, cordage, or any other material, are of little avail in 

 giving stability." But the substitute he recommends (a cer- 

 tain whimsical cup-like embankment around the roots) has not 

 been found to exert much retaining influence beyond the 

 precincts of Allanton Park ; and, even there, the learned 

 author restricts its use to bushy trees with short stems and 

 numerous roots, and dissuades from attempting at all to trans- 

 plant trees of a different character. 



Indeed, our knowledge both as to planting and propping 

 remains precisely the same as before the learned baronet's 

 thousand and one entertaining stories were compiled, or the 

 report of the Highland Society on his achievements was 

 penned. 



In removing the trees from the old to the new botanic gar- 

 den at Edinburgh, a very few years ago, the experienced and 

 scientific Mr. M'Nab had recourse to guy ropes for support ; 

 and Mr. Sang * of Kirkaldy, a gentleman also of great expe- 

 rience in these matters, has given it as his opinion, " that it 



* Strictures on Sir Henry Steuart's Planter's Guide, p. 14. 



