Allanton Park. 387 



Allanton Park has been done justice to by Mr. Nesfield, in 

 our Volume for 1838. The gardener pointed out to us the 

 different transplanted trees of which Mr. Nesfield has given the 

 dimensions ; and we found them, as might have been expected 

 from the account which Sir Henry has published of the pre- 

 paration of the soil, in vigorous growth. There can be no 

 doubt of the success of the mode of transplanting adopted by 

 Sir Henry Steuart; but it is a great mistake to suppose that it 

 is the best that can be adopted in every case. Notwithstanding 

 the small cost which attended this mode of transplanting at 

 Allanton, every where else it will be found far too expensive for 

 general purposes. It is also very tedious ; for a large tree 

 requires four or five years to prepare. In the great majority of 

 cases, the best mode of transplanting large trees is to take them 

 up with as many roots as possible, even though these should 

 extend 10 ft. or 1 2 ft. on every side, reduce the head in pro- 

 portion to the roots, envelope the trunk and main branches in 

 hay-bands, plant in a mass of thoroughly prepared soil, and 

 supply water liberally during the first summer. In all situations 

 which are tolerably sheltered, this mode will be found to succeed ; 

 and it is evident, that it must be far less tedious and expensive 

 than the mode adopted at Allanton. In the case of exposed 

 situations, there is no better mode, in our opinion, than de- 

 priving the stem of all its branches, in the Continental manner 

 described in detail in p. 130. The decapitated tree, in this 

 case, will grow very slowly at first, but its growths, like those 

 of a seedling plant placed in the same situation, will accom- 

 modate themselves to the exposure, and produce a vigorous 

 tree there, in a shorter time than it could be produced by any 

 other means ; whereas a tree with a branchy head would, in the 

 first year, be blown to one side, and, the shelter of that side 

 occasioning every year the largest shoots to be produced there, 

 the tree would continue one-sided for many years, if not always. 

 We are quite aware of all that has been said against deca- 

 pitating trees, and even cutting over the stems of thorn plants 

 before planting a quick hedge ; but we have seen and read 

 enough to satisfy us that the modes we have recommended are 

 the best for general purposes. In gardening, as in other arts, 

 science will explain the cause of success or failui'e, and it will 

 sometimes suggest new and improved practices : but no reason- 

 ing on scientific principles can set at nought practices which 

 have been attended with success for ages ; and one of these, in 

 our opinion, is the Continental mode of transplanting large 

 trees. On extraordinary occasions, it may be desirable to pre- 

 pare a tree for three or four years before it is removed; and, in 

 that case, no details can be more complete than those given in 

 the Planter's Guide. 



c c 2 



