THE planter's GUIDE. 



233 



been for several years adopted at this place ; and it is 

 recommended not less by its neatness than by its unob- 

 trnsiyeness and efficiency. The trifling expense, likewise, 

 which attends it is of no small importance in situations 

 where any considerable number of trees stand in need of 

 protection. 



This guard is composed of stakes of larch-wood made 

 like hedgestakes, but somewhat lighter and neater. They 

 are about three feet three inches long, and six or seven 

 inches in girth at the larger end. They are flattened at 

 the smaller end to the thickness of about three quarters 

 of an inch, for applying closely to the tree, and pointed 

 at the larger for driving into the ground. The workmen, 

 in setting them up, drive them into the ground four or 

 five inches out from the stem, and three asunder. The 

 tops being flat and about two inches broad, they unite 

 in a neat manner round the stem, when pressed to it 

 and firmly bound round with marline, half-twisted and 

 pitched, such as is used on board a ship to secure the 

 ends of the cables. A small piece of doubled mat, fom- 

 inches broad, is previously put between the tops of the 

 stakes and the stem, in order to prevent chafing. As 

 soon as this ring or hempen collar is put on, the work- 

 man who fixes it proceeds to connect it with the bracer 

 at the centre, drawing the end of the marline half-way 

 down between the top of the stakes and the ground, and 

 making it fast to one of the stakes. From thence he 

 passes it loosely round the whole, taking a turn round 

 each stake, until he arrives at the point where he began. 

 He then pulls it tight, and fixes it firmly at that point ; 

 adding another line of connexion on the opposite side, 

 between the collar and the centre-bracer last finished. 

 For this work it has been found more economical to use 

 double than single marline of the common size ; as also 



