64 Arboriculture. 
face of the counti'y ii« improved by this substitution of rose-covered cot- 
tages, for the wretched, clay -built huts, which for ages have in that 
neighlwurhood been the only tenements for the poor. How forcible 
is the appeal of such a scene to the philanthropist, and hoAv encou- 
raging to those gentlemen similarly situated, is the Divine command, 
"(to thoii and do likewise!" 
I remain. 
Gentlemen, 
Newark, JV^otts. } Yom-s, &c. 
July 1st 1831. S Artus. 
Article IX. — Arboriculture, No. 2. — OutUne of the 
Theory of' Arhortcultitre. — Food of Plants. — Analysis of 
Soils. By QuEKCUS. 
Gextlembx, 
I LATELY took occasion to observe to you, that the important 
business of raising timber is unaccountably neglected by land proprie- 
tors, in each portion of the United Kingdom, but particularly in Ireland ; 
and I also ventured to assert, that so far as my observation extended, 
gardeners, on whom, in nine cases out of ten, the management of the 
forest devolves, have not in general, devoted that attention to the sub- 
ject of Arboriculture, which it is justly entitled to. I am aware that 
I should unwarrantably offend any experienced gardener, were I to 
insinuate, that they would experience any difficulty in the formation, or 
even subsequent treatment of a plantation, in ordinary cases ; but it is 
not enough that he should know how to plant and prune a tree, or 
thin a plantation, an acquaintance with certain fixed principles is also 
necessary; and perceiving, short as has been the period since the 
Horticultural Register made its appearance in this part of the world, 
that it bids fair to become a favourite with a class of persons, for whose 
improvement, in eveiy branch of their profession, I am particularly 
solicitous — I mean young gardeners, including journeymen, appren- 
tices, &c — I shall take the liberty of altering, in some degree, the 
arrangements I had proposed to myself in these communications ; and 
instead of observations on tha management of plantations, shall, at 
this time offer for their consideration, in as concise a manner as I am 
able, an Outline of what may be called the Theory of Arboriculture. 
They are ever then to bear in mind, that a plant— of course including 
a tree — is a being, endowed with that mysterious property, to which 
we apply the term life ; that it is organized, i.e possessed of an appa- 
ratus, by means of v.hich its several functions are exercised ; that 
