280 



THE planter's GUIDE. 



experiments were made with subjects of no great magni- 

 tude, smaller indeed than, according to this system, were 

 calculated to withstand the elements in open exposm^es. 

 In the sheltered vale, however, in which a great part of 

 the grounds near his house is situated, and for the pur- 

 pose of diversifying his walks along the river. Sir Walter 

 removed, in 1824 and 1825, forty trees from ten to fifteen 

 feet high, and of proportional girth — Oaks, Beeches, Limes, 

 and Sycamores, and nearly half as many more in the 

 following season. From a want of plantations thinned to 

 wide distances, he possessed no extensive field for making 

 the selection properly, and therefore the plants were 

 rather deficient in the protecting properties. On this 

 account he knew that, according to the law of nature, 

 they must be stationary at first, until time and exposure 

 should supply what they ought previously to have pos- 

 sessed. 



The trees had been cut round beforehand, which greatly 

 facihtated the taking up, and they were all planted on 

 the preservative principle. But as they stood quite close 

 to the spot to which they were to be removed, they were 

 transported with handspikes, and by expert workmen, in 

 the most rapid manner, under the eye of the indefatigable 

 owner. By a communication which I have from him, it 

 appears that the plants are now in fuU health and foliage; 

 and as no preparation of the ground, and no manure, 

 was considered to be necessary, the entire expense did not 

 exceed 2s. per tree. 



But the department of transplanting which has received 

 the greatest advancement at Abbotsford, is bush-planting 

 in the open field. On the sheep-walk, at no great distance 

 from the mansion-house, Sir Walter has transferred some 

 hundreds of bushes or stools of underwood of various 

 kinds with great success ; and these give a woody appear- 



