THE planter's GUIDE. 



329 



bj myself) — I mean tlie improYement of field-hedges. 

 The species of plant generally used for hedges in this 

 country, is the common Hawthorn or Quick, [Cratcegus 

 oxyacantlia,) — but that, although a free grower, cannot be 

 called a yery hardy plant, as it is found to fail in yery 

 light and grayelly, and on yery cold and stiff soils. The 

 Beech, therefore, used in this way, has turned out a sur- 

 prising improyement.'" 



From what has been said, it is eyident that there is no 

 tree more desirable for transplantation than the Beech, 

 and none which at first sight ought better to succeed. 

 Its roots, unlike those of the Oak, are extremely fibrous : 

 they seek their food near the surface, so that they may 

 easily be multiplied by proper training. The best season 

 for remoying the tree seems to be immediately after the 

 fall, at all eyents not later than the subsequent February ; 

 as there is no plant that requires so much time for the 

 mould to settle round the roots, in order to preyent the 

 injurious eff'ect of the spring droughts. But, do what 

 you will, it is a capricious subject to deal with, and the 

 one of all others with which success can with the least 

 certainty be anticipated, from any degree of care and 

 precaution. 



The difficult point seems to be to keep it aliye during 

 the first season ; and if you can surmount that difficulty 

 there is little danger, as I scarcely eyer knew an instance 

 of a Beech dying afterwards. Sometimes it will succeed 

 to admiration Ayhen you least expect it, and sometimes it 

 will fail, after you haye done all you can do to render 

 failure impossible. The most remarkable thing about it 

 is, that, contrary to the general nature of trees, the more 

 vigorously it shoots at first, the greater is the danger of 



* Note XII. 



