238 



THE planter's GUIDE. 



cure or preventive, it is seldom seen in close planta- 

 tions. 



For such exceptions to general success, it is not easy 

 to account, especially in cases where our subjects are in 

 the full possession of the protecting properties, parti- 

 cularly that of competent and healthy roots : but it is 

 certain that such exceptions occasionally occur with 

 almost every sort of tree, even the hardiest, and those 

 the least sensitive of drought. It is, moreover, a remark- 

 able fact, that I have sometimes found those plants of the 

 late or aboriginal Oak (the hardiest of all that genus) 

 thrive the best which had the worst roots, — that is, the 

 fewest in proportion to the top. The truth is, that 

 vegetable physiology is in itself an obscure subject ; and 

 although many important facts respecting it are known 

 and ascertained by microscopical observation and careful 

 study, yet probably so many still remain to be discovered, 

 that it is impossible to suggest a satisfactory theory for 

 every anomaly that occurs in practice. But in the parti- 

 cular instance above mentioned — namely, occasional back- 

 wardness in the growth of trees, when least expected — if 

 no theory should be found to account for it, there seems 

 yet a certain remedy for the evil which experience has 

 pointed out. 



If a tree appearing backward be from five-and-twenty 

 to thirty feet high, and of girth in proportion, let four 

 cart-loads of tolerable earth be taken, of a quality rather 

 opposite than similar to that on which it has been planted, 

 — that is, for light soil, of the aluminous, and for heavy, 

 of the silicious character ; to which let a cart-load of coal- 

 ashes be added, with the rough cinders carefully riddled 

 out. Let the whole be laid round the tree, and very 

 intimately mixed in the manner above pointed out for 

 extra earth and compost, and particularly when made up 



