76 Retrospective Criticism. 



and exposed tree, timber long-stemmed and free from knots, as from a grove ; 

 neither can he from the thickly planted grove obtain short and strong stems. 

 In spite of all his endeavours, trees will persist in trying to suit their shapes to 

 their situations. There would be some little more reason in the attempts of 

 men to direct the growth of trees, were they by any means to present obstacles 

 to prevent the growth of such parts as they wished not to grow ; and to leave 

 only such parts open and at liberty as they wished to grow. What should 

 we think of him who, wishing to divert a river at any point, attempted to do 

 so by lading out the water as fast as it ran, instead of presenting an obstacle 

 to the progress of the stream, where he wished to stop it ? Verily, we should 

 think it was the work of a madman. ... It should be considered, that the 

 form of a tree is not the effect of accident or chance, but the result of princi- 

 ples incessantly acting, and given for securing the most advantageous shape 

 for the peculiarities of situation. As trees have not the power of locomotion, 

 there is a necessity for their possessing the power of varying their forms 

 according to their situations. It is the nature of a tree to take that shape 

 which is best calculated for effecting the greatest quantity of growth capable 

 of being produced in the situation it may chance to be in." ... I am much 

 gratified by J. M.'s complimentary observations ; and I only wish he had read 

 the Treatise more attentively. I am, Sir, yours, &c. — Ste2)hen Ballard. Ledbury, 

 Dec. 13. 1833. 



Mr. Munrd's Mode of training the Oak for the Production of kneed, or curved, 

 Timber for Naval Purposes. (IX. 557. 714.) — Sir, In answer to the first 

 objection of a " Journeyman Gardener" (IX. 714.) to my mode of training the 

 oak for naval timber (IX. 557), I need only state that nothing is more easy 

 than to prevent the upper part of the trunk decaying down to the first knee : 

 the top has only to be rounded off like the head of a walking-cane, and a few 

 of the buds allowed to remain on close by the cicatrix, until the bark shall 

 have closed over the amputation. Should these shoots dare to make a pull for 

 the advantage, let them be kept down till the curved shoots are able to fight 

 their own battle. 



The second objection is, that trees or shoots, when supported by posts or 

 otherwise, become too weak to support themselves when the said props are 

 removed. Mercy on us, Sir I only think on this : a " Journeyman " is surely 

 thinking of tall marrowfat peas, and not of trees. Does he imagine all the 

 world wrong, and himself only right ? Such an idea is common to many, no 

 doubt ; but let us consider what is the use of a post to a tree. Is it not 

 to support it until it shall gather strength to support itself? Why are 

 one-year-old grafts, or one-year buds supported in a nursery ? Is it not 

 with the view of strengthening them, rather than to render them feeble ? 

 However, a " Journeyman" thinks differently, and, consequently, is of opi- 

 nion that the action of the wind would cause sad twisting and creaking 

 among the knees and curves : but even supposing his notions to be correct, 

 in a forest consisting of 50, or 100, or 1000 trees, it would only be a few 

 of the outside trees that would suffer, while affording shelter to the rest. 

 Now, Sir, in my opinion., this said " Journeyman " either forgets, or does 

 not understand, the nature of the tree upon which he writes. Is there on 

 earth's wide green surface, among all the varied tribes of trees, one which 

 stands more firmly than the oak amidst the angry howl of stormy Boreas's 

 blast, or one that with equal bravery and native strength of stem stretches 

 out his bare and rugged arms unscathed amid the tempest's rage ? This pro- 

 perty is not acquired by age, but is innate and observable in an oak tree of 

 any age. 



The third objection made by a " Journeyman" is a misrepresentation. He 

 says, I should find difficulty in supplying my six or eight shoots with an 

 equalised quantity of nourishment. This is, by the way, a specimen of his 

 attentive perusal of my paper. Pray, is any mention made therein of six or 

 eight shoots ? Can he not see that from four shoots, trained as I direct, 

 eight knees can be obtained ? " Tell it not in the ' Carse of Gowrie,' publish 



