486 



NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Also Miller in voc. Tilia — Edit. Marty n ; and Coxe*s Switzerland^ vol. 

 ii. p. 64. 



Note XII. Page 847. 



The most complete experiment, made at this plac3, was on a tree 

 of about twenty- five feet high, standing on the site of what is now the 

 lake, which, as it required excavation, implied the removal of the tree. 

 The soil was a rich loam, of about twelve inches deep, with a substra- 

 tum of yellow clay, stiff, impenetrable, and tenacious of moisture. 

 Five or six years after it had been injudiciously transplanted to this 

 situation, the tree was found to make little or no progress. It rooted 

 ill. Its leaves were small, and of a pale yellowish green ; and moss 

 began to grow upon the stem. In this unhealthy state, a quantity of 

 good light mould was laid round the tree, as described in the text, and 

 to the depth of about ten inches, into which new roots immediately 

 struck from the stem. Next year, nearly as much more fresh mould 

 was added. By the third year, to my great satisfaction, I found that 

 the tree began to show symptoms of renovation. The leaf appeared of 

 a deeper green colour ; and by the fourth year it spread to the ordi- 

 nary dimensions, accompanied with the healthiest and most vigorous 

 shoots. 



When the excavation was in progress for the bed of the lake, I was 

 anxious to see what had become of the first set of roots ; and I again 

 took up the tree for transplantation. The roots appeared ill-coloured 

 and scraggy, having thrown out few or no fibres ; and some of them, 

 I perceived, had decayed altogether ; so that it was plain that by cut- 

 ting away a great part of the first set, the tree could sustain no injury, 

 as they ministered very little to its support. That was done accor- 

 dingly. The tree was then removed to a different soil, both deep and 

 dry, where it immediately succeeded. 



It is deserving of notice, that the Lime is not the only tree on which 

 the operation of "earthing up " may be successfull}^ performed. I have 

 done the same with the Ash, when of great magnitude ; but with this 

 difference in the result, that no fresh roots were thrown out from the 

 stem. Those nearest the surface immediately pushed upwards into the 

 fresh mould, and the numberless fibres which they sent out, seemed to 

 give renewed life and health to the tree during the very first season. I 

 entertain no doubt but that the Sycamore would display like properties 

 under similar circumstances. 



On another occasion, I met with an instance of the strong tendency 

 possessed by the Ash to push its roots upwards in search of food, that 

 surprised me. Within five or six yards of a row of old trees of this 



