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THE planter's GUIDE. 



the second season, jet always gave way by the summer 

 of the third. 



Being extremely partial to this noble tree, and having, 

 at the time, a number of fine subjects for removal, I 

 resolved not to be discouraged. Sometimes I imputed 

 my losses to too early, and sometimes to too late planting; 

 and sometimes I referred them to late frosts and unpro- 

 pitious seasons. A number of beautiful plants, from five- 

 and-twenty to thirty feet high, were again set out on the 

 most loamy parts of the park ; which, being their favourite 

 soil, furnished the best prospect of success. But, to my 

 unspeakable mortification, not one in twenty survived. 

 I fairly own that I now lost resolution to persevere ; and 

 I abandoned altogether the transplanting of the Oak, as 

 an object which, however much to be desired, seemed 

 unattainable by any methods within my reach. 



Three or four years after this, on reverting, .with 

 regret, to these circumstances, and examining the few 

 plants that had survived the fate of the rest, I found 

 some of the facts attending them particularly deserving 

 of attention. The greater part seemed to be of a species 

 of the Oak which, as a distinct kind, had never till now 

 attracted my notice. Like the Beech, it seemed to 

 retain a fall coat of leaves during the winter ; and, like 

 the Beech also, the leaves adhered closely to it till the 

 month of May, and, in a late season, even till the middle 

 of June, when the old were replaced by the new. With 

 this sort of Oak I resolved to make another trial. I 

 selected two spreading plants of considerable size, on 

 which the leaves seemed to be niost thickly set, and the 

 bark of the darkest colour I could procure. I resolved, 

 moreover, to adopt a later season for the removal than I 

 had done formerly, — namely, the first week of April, — 

 before the spring drought should decidedly set in. 



