38 



THE planter's GUIDE. 



feet high, or more, and of fifteen and sixteen years' 

 growth, the plants were supposed to be ready for ultimate 

 removal, by conyeying them on men's shoulders to their 

 permanent destinations. By this elaborate course of 

 training and discipline, all mutilation of the tops was to 

 be avoided ; and in this way he hoped so judiciously to 

 second, and even direct the efforts of nature, as should 

 render violence useless, and effectually preclude the errors 

 which haste or ignorance had hitherto committed.* 



It is to be regretted that this theory, which is suffi- 

 ciently ingenious, is impossible to be applied to any 

 practical purpose, although it contains valuable lessons 

 for the planter of reflection. The time alone which 

 would be required for its completion, and the tedious pre- 

 paration, and consequent expense incurred by the process, 

 (supposing it were even more faultless than it is,) have 

 probably prevented its being attempted by any one 

 except the ingenious projector. 



Besides this, Boutcher had another plan, on which he 

 seems to have highly valued himself, for removing trees of 

 a large size that " had stood long in woods and nurseries." 

 But the very terms of this proposition, in as far as regards 

 the previous situation of the trees, are almost quite 

 enough to ensure miscarriage ; and no more needs be said 

 about it than this, that it is a better edition of Lord 

 Fitzharding's system, but with infinitely worse subjects. 

 The roots were to be more elaborately trained, and in 

 every way more scientifically treated ; but entire decapi- 

 tation is held forth as a leading feature in the plan, which 

 that ingenious nobleman had the skill to avoid, f 



The other author to whom we have to refer is Mar- 

 shall — an intelligent and voluminous writer on rural 



* Treatise on Forest Trees, p. 14-17, &c. + lb. p. 256-259. 



