XXll 



MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOE. 



improvers, there existed another reason wliicli accounted 

 for Sir Walter's inability to carry out fully the system at 

 Abbotsford recommended in the " Planter's Guide." As 

 the following letter from the author of Waverley, to his 

 friend Sir Henry, presents an interesting account of the 

 improvements at Abbotsford, and as Sir Henry had ob- 

 tained permission from the author to make any use of it 

 which he might deem proper in a future edition of his 

 wort, we feel convinced that we shall both gratify and in- 

 terest our readers by its insertion. 



"Abbotsfoed, 19t7i September. 



" My Dear Sir Henry, — It would be most creditable 

 to me, if I had any thing to offer in the way of evidence 

 which could serve to illustrate your very elaborate and 

 effectual process of transplanting, which I consider as a 

 discovery of the last importance. But the situation of this 

 place has only permitted me to make rude and unsys- 

 tematic attempts ; and the partial success they have obtained 

 is far from what I am convinced would have been the result, 

 if I had had means and motives for setting about the task 

 regularly. The following is what I have been doing here, 

 but I fear it is not worthy of insertion in the notes to yom^ 

 ingenious essay. About 1812, I became proprietor of this 

 place, which may consist of fifteen hundred acres ; some 

 part croft land, severely handled by the plough, some hill 

 and dale, rough moorland. Commencing near my house, I 

 made considerable plantations every year; and purchased, I 

 suppose, about five hundred acres, woodland, in very respect- 

 able order. I fell into the great error of planting my 

 hard wood trees greatly too thick, which led me first to 

 think of transplanting. There was a walk by the side of 

 the Tweed, which I wished much to adorn with trees. I 

 lifted in 1814-15, a number of young trees for this pur- 



