THE TLANTEll's GUIDE. 



165 



rior facility both in the taking up and the replanting of the 

 tree; and in the second place, it furnishes a vast multi- 

 plicity of fibrous roots, far more numerous than could be 

 furnished by unassisted nature ; and these act as so many 

 superadded mouths to take up, by means of introsusception, 

 the food proper for the nourishment of the plant. This, we 

 should reflect, is the more peculiarly needful in a process 

 so violent as transplanting, however carefully performed 

 and scientifically directed, must imply. 



Next, as to the preparation of trees in large masses. 

 In executing designs of any extent, where many subjects 

 are wanted, this comes to be a work of necessity as well 

 as importance, because materials for such designs could 

 not be furnished by individual trees. It is therefore 

 proper that it should be done with the least possible, 

 expense and labour. For any design, great or small, a 

 separate spot, which I have called a transplanting nursery, 

 is extremely desirable, as contributing in an eminent 

 degree to the facility, not less than to the accuracy, of the 

 work. Here subjects of all denominations may be most 

 conveniently trained and disciplined. From a nursery 

 like this, as from a great repository of materials, high and 

 low, light and massive, spreading and spiral trees, may be 

 brought forth at pleasure, as may best suit the planter's 

 design ; and without throwing away or misapplying the 

 prerequisites for success, he may have the power of wood- 

 ing the highest, as well as the lowest parts of his grounds. 

 The fact is, that all grove-wood from about twenty to 

 forty years' growth, if properly thinned and pruned after 

 the first ten or twelve years, so as that the tops are never 

 after allowed to touch one another, may be esteemed the 

 best transplanting nurseries of any, provided that the soil 

 be loose and friable ; but there is no necessity for its 

 being extremely deep. On the contrary, a thin clay or 



