THE planter's GUIDE. 



27 



tlie curious eye may still distinguish the traces of this 

 extraordinary achievement in the rectilinear disposition 

 of the trees, which were removed on that occasion. 



Respecting the success of the work, executed probably 

 about 1670, it is not easy at this distance of time to 

 speak with certainty. That the trees were lopped or 

 mutilated we are well aware — and that little science was 

 employed, excepting in the mechanical skill displayed in 

 the transportation. Of the trees, therefore, many must 

 have died for want of roots and of sap to support them, 

 although their places were afterwards supplied ; and many 

 must have lost their tops had they not been severely 

 lopped, or altogether decapitated. The lapse, however, 

 of more than a century and a half, a space far surpassing 

 the age of man, has supplied these defects. While it has 

 brought the trees to maturity, it has covered with oblivion 

 all the imperfections of the process; and the former 

 promise long to remain a monument of so stupendous an 

 exertion of physical force. 



Sturm, a German traveller, who visited France about 

 the year 1730, relates that the great transplanting 

 machine used on this memorable occasion {Die grosse 

 Garten- MachineY^ was still shown at Versailles, and it 

 must long after have been seen by others.' But, from its 

 late disappearance, we may conclude that it was pulled 

 to pieces, and the iron-work probably converted into 

 pikes on the breaking out of the French Revolution. 



Besides this celebrated effort in the vicinity of the 

 capital, we should be inclined to imagine, from what is 

 said by contemporary writers, that Louis succeeded still 

 better in the provinces in giving immediate effect to 

 wood. At Mont-Louis, a small town in the territory of 



* Sturm's Travels, p. 113. 



