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THE planter's GUIDE. 



sucli a plant may possess fibrous roots and spreading 

 branches, (two of the protecting properties which are 

 generally concomitant,) yet it may be deficient in both 

 bark and stem. In like manner it may have desirable 

 stem and bark, (two properties, likewise, which usually go 

 together,) and yet fail in branches and roots. 



It is a great error to imagine with the early planters, 

 and as is still done by many, that the business of pre- 

 paration applies solely to roots. As well might it be 

 imagined that the roots carry up the sap to the top ; 

 tliat tliey elaborate it in the leaves ; that they transmit 

 it to the stem and branches ; and, in a word, that this 

 single organ performs ail the various functions which 

 exist in a complicated system. When the ingenious 

 Lord Fitzharding, as we learn from Evelyn, thought of 

 cutting round the roots of trees in order to multiply their 

 lateral fibres, it cannot be deemed surprising that he 

 should have been unaware how small a part of the work 

 of preparation he had eff'ected by that invention. But it 

 is much more extraordinary that, during the many years 

 that my practice has been open to general inspection, it 

 should never occur to any one that its success did not 

 depend merely on the roots, but must be governed by 

 some general and fixed principles : for to this day, when 

 the roots of trees are cut round, as is often done, they are 

 said to be ''fully prepared according to my method;" 

 while the planter who so prepares them does not suspect 

 that he is merely fulfilling one of four conditions which 

 are pointed out by that method. But perhaps it was 

 not supposed that a process seemingly so simple as trans- 

 planting appeared to be, in the hands of my workmen, 

 required any principle at all to regulate it. 



It has been stated in a foregoing section, that the per- 

 fect and internal development of woody plants is depen- 



