CHAP. IV. 



PLAN OF DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY. 



229 



considerable importance, to what size or age the tree or shrub may be 

 kept in the nursery and still be fit to transplant ; the number of times 

 which it ought to be transplanted while it remains in the nursery, till it 

 attains that size; its pruning; protection from the weather, from insects, 

 epiphytes, parasites, diseases, &c. 



C. Choice of Plants, and Planting out. Some plants are better adapted for 

 transplanting at one age than another ; and while some may be taken at 

 once from the seed bed or nursery lines, others should be grown in 

 pots, for more convenient deportation, with all their fibrous roots and 

 spongioles in a living state. 



D. Culture after final Removal. This will embrace the treatment of the 

 plant, as a single tree or shrub in a park or lawn ; its treatm-ent, as part 

 of a picturesque group, or as part of a gardenesque group ; against a 

 wall, as a climber, twiner, trailer, or creeper ; collectively, in ornamental 

 plantations, whether gardenesque or picturesque ; in useful plantations, 

 whether arranged methodically or planted irregularly; in geometrical 

 plantations ; in architectural or sculptural plantations ; in avenues, ar- 

 cades, hedgerows, and hedges. 



E. Species adapted for Succession. Natural forests, when they decay by 

 age, are destroyed by fire, or cut down by man, are generally succeeded 

 by a different species of tree from that which before prevailed. It is de- 

 sirable to imitate this natural process by art, as far as experience and 

 science can direct ; and some space will therefore be devoted to the con- 

 sideration of the subject, in its proper place in our Enci/clopcBdia of 

 Arboriculture . 



12. Statistics. By statistics is to be understood the actual state of any 

 science or art ; and the statistics of trees and shrubs may be included under 

 the heads of geographical statistics, and commercial statistics. 

 A. Geographical Statistics. Under this head we shall include the notices of 

 the age and the dimensions of the trees and shrubs of temperate cli- 

 mates, which we have obtained in consequence of the circulation of 

 the printed forms which we have called Return Papers (see Gard. Mag., 

 vol. X. p. 582.), in Britain, on the Continent, and, as far as we have 

 been able, in North America. The information thus obtained will be 

 useful, as showing the undoubted hardiness of some trees and shrubs ; 

 the comparative suitableness of certain soils and climates for particular 

 kinds 5 those which in general may be considered as most hardy, or of 

 most rapid growth ; which attain the largest size, or the greatest age ; 

 which are most profitable, or most ornamental, &c. ; but, above all, it 

 will show the comparative advances which trees make in a soil prepared, 

 or not prepared, in different parts of Britain. The statistics of trees 

 will be arranged as Domestic and Foreign. 



a. The Domestic Notices of the existence of trees and shrubs in certain 

 places, together with notices of their age, rate of growth, &c., will be 

 placed under the heads of — 



a. In the Environs of London ; that is, within a radius of ten miles 

 from the metropolis. 



b. South of London ; that is, in the English counties which are situ- 

 ated wholly, or in the greater part, south of the metropolis 



c. North of London ; that is, in the English counties which are situ- 

 ated wholly, or in the greater part, no'rth of the metropolis. 



d. Wales ; taking the counties alphabetically. 



e. Scotland ; in the same order as in England. 

 /. Ireland ; also in the same order, 



b. The Foreign Notices of the existence and dimensions of trees and 

 shrubs, which we have received, or have collected from books, will be 

 given in the following order : — 



a. Europe. 1. France. 2. Belgium and Holland. 3. Germany. 

 *s 4 



