Planting and Managing of Belts. 54 1 



before I entirely abandon your theory, as laid down in your 

 Encyclopedia of Gardening, 5th edit., § 2132. I conceive that 

 reasoning as physiologically as we may, upon not adjusting the 

 proportion of the branches to that of the roots, will be of little 

 use in transplanting large trees ; in which operation, if a due 

 preparation of them has not been made, a loss, perhaps, of one 

 third or more of their roots and fibres may take place. I must 

 confess I am loth to set analogy and physiology completely at 

 loggerheads, as Mr. Elles seems to have done : I conceive that 

 both ought to be regarded, and consulted, in most of the oper- 

 ations in horticulture; and I think experience teaches us that 

 sometimes the one, and sometimes the other, may be neutralised, 

 and that they may at other times cooperate, and both prove 

 useful in bringing about the end desired. 



The following passage in the new edition of the Encyclopaedia of 

 Gardening, § 569., appears to confirm my own experience on the 

 subject. " The English garden of the new palace at Stuttgart was 

 laid out, in 1809, from a design by the late king. It was planted 

 with lime trees, from twenty to forty years old, from the avenues 

 of Ludwigsberg and Solitude. All of these trees died in three 

 years; their heads were not reduced, and their roots were not 

 cut round and prepared a year or two before transplanting. The 

 places of the dead trees have been since supplied by lime trees, 

 with stems of four inches in diameter; horsechestnuts, eighteen 

 inches in diameter ; poplars still larger ; and platanus nine inches 

 in diameter; all of which were planted with their branches 

 severely cut in, and have succeeded perfectly." [This was stated 

 to us on the spot by M. Bosch, the present Director-General of 

 Gardens in Wirtemberg.] 



But while upon this topic, I must observe, that the nature of 

 soils has a great influence with respect to the success of every 

 kind of vegetable product when transplanted, from the cabbage 

 to the oak. Soils may be divided into two classes ; viz., those 

 which may be denominated dead and inert, and those which 

 are quick and energetic. A fine, rich, deep, sandy loam, 

 will work wonders in a garden ; whereas, a poor, cold, hungry 

 soil proves a constant source of disappointment and vexation to 

 the gardener. I have seen cabbages planted in some gardens, 

 where, at the end of four or five weeks, they have scarcely shown 

 an indication of moving, while in other gardens I have witnessed 

 them, in the same time, and at the same season of the year, 

 nearly fit to cut, The analogy will hold good, I conceive, with 

 regard to trees ; and, in cases where large trees are removed 

 from a soil congenial to their growth, to one that is the reverse, 

 it is not to be wondered at if the transition proves fatal. 



There have been some excellent papers given in your Maga- 

 zine upon the pruning of forest trees ; among which, that of 



Vol. X, — No 56. Q Q 



