Retrospective Criticism. 371 



rails, at the very low price of 6c/. per pair, is 12 10^,, or 60/. IOj. per acre. 

 The Duke of Athol has practised turning Scotch bullocks, or stotts, into 

 his plantations, which may be very economical on the barren mountains 

 of Scotland, where grass is scarce; but I prefer putting in 300 English 

 oaks, elms, or Spanish chestnuts, so that when the larches have been felled, 

 a fine young plantation of hard wood supplies their places. This result, 

 however, partly depends on soil and situation. All soils are improved by 

 producing a crop of trees, therefore all poor lands should be planted. 



Now for the requisite quantity of leaves {\iz. mouths to feed, and) to 

 rear 100 cubic feet of timber. Twelve feet apart being found the proper 

 distance, of course the branches can extend no farther than 6 ft. from the 

 centre of the stem (for observe that all fir boughs proceed from the very 

 centre of the stem, or first year's shoot, and increase in size towards the 

 surface, till they rot, or are cut off). Then, as all branches will rot when 

 excluded from the sun and air, and under the drip of others, it follows that 

 they are no longer of use, but may be very detrimental to the timber, and 

 who will not agree that they are better off than on ? It therefore follows 

 that the Duke of Athol's trees have no larger a top than an unpruned 

 tree of 10 or 15 years' growth. So much for mighty heads and mouths. 

 Then, Sir, if left to nature, deciduous trees will not prune themselves at 

 all, nor form a bole fit to be seen. An oak, unless drawn up by other 

 trees, will only assume the appearance of an apple tree, ay, even of a dwarf 

 apple tree ; but by pruning it may at least assume the appearance of a 

 standard apple. Some eighteen years ago I planted an apple orchard with 

 dwarfs and standards alternately ; I have felled some of them this winter 

 with stems 10 in. in diameter, though three fourths of their mouths were 

 pruned off every year. I had one of the standards sawn into boards, 

 which I intend to make a table of, as a keepsake ; the centre being a 

 beautiful picture of an Irish shillelah, which has turned brown ; the outside 

 is white as chalk, of fine clear timber. Had such a tree not been pruned 

 in its youth, it would have been only like the dwarfs, only fit for firewood, 

 and poor firewood too. AVe are sorry to lop or prune ornamental trees ; 

 but, when timber is the object desired, even the common laurel, and 

 particularly the Portugal laurel, and the silver-striped holly, by thick 

 planting and proper pruning, may be formed into timber trees. Many of 

 the latter I assisted in felling, 30 years ago, at the Earl of Hopetoun's ; 

 many of them were full 18 in. in diameter, with nearly 20 ft. of clear clean 

 stem : they were sawn into veneers, for the cabinet-makers, as the wood 

 is much whiter than that of the common green holly. 



Now for ignorance in arboriculture. What is the reason why M'e gar- 

 deners cut off half or two thirds of the leaf when inserting a bud into 

 a stock ? Why do we cut down a graft or scion to two or three eyes 

 when inserting a graft ? Why do we prefer raising grape vines from single 

 eyes, instead of a long shoot ? Why do we cut down vines and other 

 plants to make them break out the stronger ? Why do we use striking- 

 glasses for tender cuttings, and even shade them from the sun ? The 

 answer of the would-be new school, will be, " It is all from ignorance. 

 Gardeners have no time to study physiology ; theu- masters and mistresses 

 should study for them, and tell them how to practise ; and the learned in 

 divinity, law, and physic will assist with their college lore in illuminating 

 the poor ignorant gardener, inasmuch as he is quite in the dark ; for that 

 the leaves, twigs, buds, and branches are the true sources of health and 

 vigour." Well, well, Messieurs Collegians, you must have it all your own 

 way : you can speak and write better than we poor gardeners can ; but, I 

 trust, most of us know hovv' to sow, plant, bud and graft, prune and thin, 

 so as to produce flowers, fruit, vegetables, ay, and timber trees too, a^ 



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