54 



A DISCOURSE 



5. Theophrastus, in his third book de Causis, cap. vii. gives us great 

 caution in planting to preserve the roots, and especially the earth adhe- 

 ring to the smallest fibrils, which should by no means be shaken off, as 

 most of our gardeners do, to trim and quicken them, as they pretend, 

 which is to cut them shorter ; (though I forbid not a very small topping of 

 the straggling threads, which may else hinder the spreading of the rest;) 

 not at all considering that those tender hairs are the very mouths and 

 vehicles which suck in the nutriment, and transfuse it into all the parts 

 of the tree ; and that these once perishing, the thicker and larger roots, 

 hard and less spungy, signify little but to establish the stem ; as I have 

 frequently experimented in Orange-trees, whose fibres are so very ob- 

 noxious to rot, if they take in the least excess of wet : and therefore Cato 

 advises us to take care that we bind the mould about them, or transfer 

 the roots in baskets, to preserve it from forsaking them ; as now our 

 nursery -men frequently do, by which they of late are able to furnish our 

 grounds, avenues, and gardens in a moment with trees and other plants, 

 which would else require many years to appear in such perfection. In 

 this case the earth is already applied, and fitted to the apertures and 

 mouths of the fibres ; but it would require some time to bring them in 

 appetite again to a new mould, by which to repair their loss, furnish their 

 stock, and proceed in their wonted econonomy, without manifest danger 

 and interruption ; nor less ought our care to be in the making and dress- 

 ing of the pits and fosses into Avhich we design our transplantation, 

 which should be prepared and left some time open to macerating rains, 

 frosts, and sun, that may resolve the compacted salt, (as some will have 

 it,) render the earth friable, mix and qualify it for aliment, and to be 

 more easily drawn in and digested by the roots and analogous stomach 

 of the trees : this, to some degree, may be artificially done, by burnin g 

 of straw^ in the newly opened pits, and drenching the mould with water, 

 especially in over dry seasons, and by meliorating barren ground with 

 sweet and comminuted Isetations. Let therefore tliis be received as a 

 maxim, never to plant a fruit or forest-tree where there has lately been 

 an old decayed one taken up, till the pit be well ventilated and furnished 

 with fresh mould. 



6. Pliny, the author of the Natural History, tells us, it w^as a vulgar 

 tradition in his time, that no tree should be removed under two years 

 old, or above three. Cato would have none transplanted less than five 



