370 



THE planter's GUIDE. 



that I could find in the transplanting nm^series, both in 

 respect to its branches and its roots, and then remoyed 

 the young tree to the open lawn. The ground on which 

 it stands is rather light and of inferior quality ; but it is 

 noAY in great vigoui^, about eight-and-twenty feet high, 

 and two feet eight inches in girth eighteen inches from 

 the ground, and shooting from fifteen to eighteen inches 

 yearly. In fact it exhibits one of the most perfect pic- 

 tures possible of what Gilpin calls " stripling beauty in 

 trees — the light and airy spray of the Birch united with 

 the picturesque ramification of the Oak and the Chestnut. 

 I think Mr Pontey would consider it as no bad specimen 

 of pruning and training for picturesque efifect.*'^ 



The Birch may be remoyed of yery considerable size, 

 and with great success, proyided that due care be taken 

 to protect its tender and fibrous roots from the efiects of 

 drought dming the first summer after remoyal. Like the 

 Beech it is yery sensitiye in this particular, and for that 

 reason it should be transplanted, like the Beech, soon after 

 autumn, or at least as early in the winter as possible. 

 Three years' preparation is the least that will giye you 

 fibres in sufl&cient number. 



Where a particular object is to be seen through trees, 

 or under their branches, sometimes concealing and some- 

 times reyealing it among their playful foliage, I know no 

 tree that excels the Birch. Perhaps it equals the light 

 and airy form of the spreading Beech itself, for that 

 picturesque purpose. In the park, howeyer, I haye used 

 it sparingly, but as copse in great profusion ; and from its 

 hardy character, early leaf, and peculiar fragrance after 

 rain, it may be considered as almost inyaluable for under- 

 wood. 



* See a delineation of it, plate II. ; also Note XXVI. — The size of this 

 Birch was six feet one inch in circumference two feet from the ground, and 

 forty-five feet high. — Ed. 



