THE TLANTER's GUIDE. 



103 



deemed of some value to the planter, who will perceive 

 that where so great a point is gained no visible injury 

 is suffered, as is admitted by all who have examined the 

 trees at this place. That almost every naturalist and 

 georgical writer, ancient and modern, from Theophrastus 

 to Virgil, and from Virgil down to Evelyn and his fol- 

 lowers, has insisted on an opposite practice, as quite indis- 

 pensable to the health and well-being of woody plants, is 

 little to the purpose. It is nothing more than a reite- 

 rated precept, handed down from one age to another, in 

 the face of the most unquestionable experience of its 

 fallacy.'''" 



Upon the whole, in considering this fairest and most 

 beautiful of vegetable productions, it is interesting to 

 observe the curious and compKcated mechanism, if I may 

 so speak, that is displayed by nature in nourishing and 

 bringing it to perfection, and the intimate connexion 

 which subsists between the most distant parts. In fact, 

 every part of a tree is the condition of every other part, 

 which continually acts and reacts. The judicious planter, 

 therefore, will regard the treatment to be given to none 

 of these parts with indifference; it being clear that the 

 preservation of all the parts, in as entire and perfect a 

 state as possible, is a matter of first-rate moment to his 

 art.f He will also see that his success mainly depends 

 on the due regidation of the sap, and a careful protection 

 of the sap -vessels. 



In the course of the foregoing remarks and illustrations, 

 I have endeavoured to show the importance of the four 

 main properties, or prerequisites, which trees should pos- 

 less to render them fit for removal to exposed situations. 

 I have also given a cursory idea of the nature of the 



* Note VIII. 



t Note IX. 



