OAKS SUITED FOR SCOTLAND. 



185 



which, in one out of five hundred instances, justifies 

 us in laying the blame either on the climate or soil. 

 If experience taught us that want of success in the 

 cultivation of any plant could proceed from these 

 sources only, then I confess the opinion I am com- 

 bating would be most firmly established. But we 

 are certain that culture has in the vegetable world 

 scarce less influence than either ; and that where 

 this is conducted on wrong principles, it will be in 

 vain to look for a productive crop, let climate and 

 soil be ever so favourable. On seeing an indiffe- 

 rent field of turnips, it would be far too hasty a 

 judgment to conclude the land to be bad, solely 

 on the evidence of the observed deficiency ; because 

 such deficiency, as every one knows, might proceed 

 from no other cause than imperfect tillage. In like 

 manner, that oaks have not thriven when planted 

 in any given piece of ground, does not prove that 

 such ground is incapable of producing them, till it be 

 first ascertained that the treatment they received 

 while in the nursery, — their being transplanted, — 

 the method in which that operation was performed, 

 — and numerous other particulars respecting their 

 culture, were perfectly suitable to their nature. 

 Nor does it in the least degree invalidate this rea- 

 soning, if any other kind of trees should have pros- 



