68 



THE planter's GUIDE. 



axioms of the art. In doing this, however, our considera- 

 tion may be limited to the vegetable kingdom. 



Nature, as has been observed, has destined trees to 

 grow, more or less vigorously, in all situations, from those 

 of the thinnest groups in the highest latitudes, to the 

 densest masses and the most sheltered woods ; and for 

 this purpose she has conferred provisions or properties 

 upon each, which are severally adapted to such circum- 

 stances. Now, as the business of transplanting, generally 

 speaking, implies increased exposure, it is proper to 

 inquire more minutely into these provisions, so as to 

 enable us to ascertain their peculiar appearance and cha- 

 racter, and into the way in which they affect the growth 

 of trees. 



With this view, it will serve little purpose to draw 

 examples from ordinary plantations. Let us have recourse 

 to ancient forests and woodlands, or to parks long since 

 planted, in which the hand of man has either never inter- 

 fered, or where the vestiges of his interference have been 

 long obliterated. Here we shall find trees in every 

 variety of situation, but endued with properties of the 

 most opposite sort. Yet all grow with relative luxuriance, 

 under the circumstances in which they are placed. Of 

 trees in the interior of woods, setting aside all technical 

 or phytological distinctions, the following are found to be 

 the general characteristics : stems , upright and stately ; 

 bark, glossy and beautiful ; tops small, and thinly pro- 

 vided with branches ; with roots, in the same way, spare 

 and scanty, but in due proportion to the tops. In open 

 exposures, on the other hand, the reverse of all this is the 

 case. The characteristics of these are the following : 

 stems, stout and short; bark, thick and coarse; tops, ex- 

 tensive and spreading ; branches, often reaching to the 

 ground; with roots extensive like the tops, and throwing 



