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THE planter's GUIDE. 



with the aid of supports or fastenings of whatever species. 

 To this it may be answered, that almost all trees with 

 large heads have short and stout stems with correlatiye 

 roots; and at all events, that by art skilfully employed, 

 roots may be increased to the ability of the tops, and 

 almost incredibly multiplied, if time be given for nature 

 to second the efforts of art. Besides the nourishment 

 which is prepared by the leaves, sent down to the stem, 

 and ultimately, by means of the branches, to such exten- 

 sive roots, the branches and stem together serve to 

 balance the tree properly against the winds ; so that, 

 when due precautions are used, an extensive top is an aid 

 rather than an impediment to the progress of trees, and 

 may be rendered advantageous by a skilful planter. 



The third and last objection is, that transplanted trees 

 do not survive above five or six years after being so inju- 

 diciously removed as above described, and their boughs 

 mutilated : that in a particular instance, which Miller 

 quotes, where Oaks were so treated, and where they were 

 found to thrive beyond all expectation in the beginning, 

 they yet died at the end of fifty years; whereas, accord- 

 ing to the characteristic properties of that tree, they 

 should then have been increasing in vigour. To which it 

 may be fairly replied, that the occurrence of such mis- 

 carriages evidently proceeds upon the supposition, that 

 the injurious practice of lopping the tops and side 

 branches is still to be continued ; when on the contrary, 

 by an improved practice, as soon as that cause is removed, 

 the evils that flowed from it will be removed in con- 

 sequence. As to the effects of fifty years' growth on 

 transplanted trees, it is not so easy to speak; but at the 

 place from which these pages are dated, some Oaks, 

 Beeches, and Limes are to be seen, nearly forty years 

 after removal; and those trees have constantly exhibited 



