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THE planter's GUIDE. 



properly rear, is, I am sorry to say, the besetting sin of 

 the present race of planters. The errors which are com- 

 mitted for want of this sort of adaptation in transplanted 

 wood are scarcely credible, unless by those who have 

 closely attended to the subject. A striking example has 

 been brought forward in Note I., Section I. A number 

 of others that have come under my observation might be 

 added, were it necessary, as a great proportion of the 

 failures which take place in transplanting are distinctly 

 referable to this fruitful source. 



The second error to which I shall advert is, the having 

 recourse to close woods and plantations for the supply of 

 subjects for removal. Perhaps there is no planter who, 

 in the beginning, has not fallen into this mistake, before 

 he has had sufficient time to attend to the effects of heat 

 and cold on the growth of wood. Allured by the fine 

 forms of trees so trained, by the tallness of their stems, 

 the beauty of their bark, and their general appearance of 

 health and strength, we naturally form the wish to 

 transfer them to the lawn or open park : but we should 

 reflect that, how much soever they may please the eye, 

 there are no properties so unfit as these for this degree of 

 exposure, as they are generated solely by warmth and 

 shelter. As well might we bring forth the native of the 

 burning plains of Asia or Africa, and in the light attire 

 of those tropical climates expect him to endure a British 

 winter. Either the facts respecting exposed and sheltered 

 wood, as above stated, are incorrect and unfounded, or 

 nature must be supposed to act in contradiction to her- 

 self, if she sanctioned such incongruities. Yet ninety- 

 nine times in a hundred the success of an art, which, if 

 rightly understood, would be interesting to many, is fairly 

 marred by this erroneous practice. JSTor are these the 

 errors of youth or inexperience. Two of our best 



