STEUART'S planter's GUIDE. 



239 



all. The ground was then dramed and trenched, 

 excepting the part around the tree, which had been 

 stirred in the planting. If thought necessary, a 

 prop or two were placed to steady the tree during the 

 winter, as it might otherwise work a little back and 

 forward with the wind while the clay was moist and 

 soft. After the earth had dried in the spring, the 

 props were removed. 



Wheii we look back on the description of this prac- 

 tice, it seems tedious ; but much of the work is done 

 sooner than described. Were it of sufficient import- 

 ance, trees might be grown in something like lazy 

 beds, with water always standing in the dividing 

 trenches, about fifteen inches lower than the surface, 

 which would procure roots very manageable by this 

 practice. We once had a small nursery of oaks so 

 situated, and the trees which were removed, when of 

 considerable size, had roots uncommonly matted and 

 fibrous, and which carried with them a large mass of 

 soil. These succeeded very well when transplanted, 

 but we should consider that plants from a drier poorer 

 soil, with roots equally fibrous, would be preferable, 

 could they be extracted with as much adhering earth, 

 which, however, could not be accomplished without 

 preparation and considerable labour. Were it the only 

 consideration to procure plants which would best 



