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A

TREATISE

o N

FOREST-TREES:

CONTAINING

Not only the befl Methods of their Culture hitherto praclifed,
but a variety of new and ufeful Discoveries, the refalt of
many repeated experiments :

AS ALSO,

Plain Directions for removing mofl: of the valuable kinds of
Forest-Trees, to the height of thirty feet and upwards, with certain
fuccefs ;

AND,

On the liime principles, (with as certain fuccefs) for tranfplanting Hedges
of fundry kinds, which will at once refill Cattle :

TO WHICH ARE ADDED^

Directions for the Difpofition, Planting, and Culture of H E D G E s,
by obferving which, they will be handfomer and ftronger Fences in five years,
than they now ufually are in ten.

By WILLIAM B O U T C H E R, Nurseryman,
At Comely-Garden, Edinburgh.

Ji'ho tbtn J.-.all grace, or -who hnjrove the JrJ P

Who plants like BathursT, or uho hiilJs like Bo Y I.E.

'Tis life alone that fanf':if,es expcnce.

And fpkrJor borro-jjs all her rays from fcnfe. Popn.

EDINBURGH:

Printed by R. Fleming, and fold bv the Author, by J. Murray, No. 31.

rleef-Jlrcel, J^ruLn, and the other Boc-kfellers in Crtat Hrit^ili.

^nd each grr.'Miie Copy is JJgned by

■^f.

To HIS GRACE

HENRY Duke of Buccleugh,

Earl of Dalkeith and Doncaster,

<^c. <i)'c. <^^c.

My Lord Duke,

A TEITHER your Grace's Birth nor Fortune, thd
-L y the one is moft illuftrious, and the other ampk^
ivere the motives that induced me to heg the honour of your
countenance to the folio-wing Treatise, my point in view
being, I conceive, of a higher nature than can be derived
from any external advantages. JFhat I have here -written,
is the effeci of much experience, and long obfervation, — and
I am made to believe, it -will contribute to the general im-
provement of our plantations, and confequently to the public
benefit. This being the principal objcB of the TVork, to
-whom can I infcribe it -with fo great propriety, as to your
Grace, -who, from the earliefl dawn of manhood, has

4 DEDICATION.

hivariahly and induftnou(ly purfiied every meaftire tending to-
fupport the decaying honour, and promote the real intereji
of your country P

Accept then, my Lord, thefe humhie effays, as the only
means in my power moft exprejfive of that true eft eem -which
I fenfibly fcely and ivh'ich every honefl confiderate Scots-
7nan mufi, for fo nohle and hold an aferter of his country s
rights and liberties. I am, ivith the utmofl deference and.
Tcfpecl,

My Lord Duke,

Tour Grack's mofl obedient,
And mofl humble Servant,

Comely-GardeW, >

juijio. 177 J. 5

W I L L. B O U T C H E R.

The preface.

AFTER the great number of books that have been publilhed
on Gardenuig in general, fome of them by men of learn-
ing and obfervation, it may to many appear unneceflary, and
even prefumptuous, to offer any thing new to the Public on that
fubje(5l : But the Author of the following flieets flatters himfelf,
that, on an attentive perufal of them, thefe imprefhons will be
removed ; that the fyflem is far from being exhaufled ; that the
befl rules hitherto dire(51:ed are here extended and improved ;
and that fo many new obfervations are made, as to render a
very confidei-able part of the work an original performance.

To relate the many pleafui'es and advantages that attend the
fkilful pracflice of Gardening in all its various branches, but
particularly in that of noble and extended plantations, would ill
become my humble talents, after the high encomiums bellowed
on it by the greateft antient and modern authors. It is enough
for me to fay, it has been the favourite ftudy and amufement of
the greatefl and wifeft Princes, Philofophers, Lawgivers, and
Conquerors, many of whom have gladly retired from the ambi-
tious purfuits of life, and enjoyed more folid and rational plea-
fures in the virtuous innocent employments of planting, and
cultivating their gardens and farms, tlian in all the magnificence
and luxury of Courts.

ii PREFACE.

In the books hitherto publiflied on the cultivation of Forcft
Trees the rules have been vei'y fliort and confined : Their
authors fcem generally to have adopted the opinion, which yet
unhappily prevails amongft the greateft number of unexperienced
planters, that when they have put a young tree in the ground,
they have done their duty, and that their labours are at an end :
But fuch are fomewhat like unnatural parents, who negled to
tend and fofter their infant offspring, fince trees, as well as ani-
mals, mull: have food and difcipline, to rear them to flrength,
maturity, and good order. Thefe books comprehend no more
than fowing the feeds, planting the cuttings, or laying down
the branches in their proper feafon, there to abide a certain time,
and from thence to be tranfplanted to the nurfery,. where thev
are to continue two, three, or four years ; from the nurfery, to
be removed to the places where they arc meant to remain for
good ; and thus the bufmefs is at an end. But this Treatife is
much more comprehenfive : It contains not only the bell me-
thods of propagating plants in all their various ways, and of their
culture to the common ages and fizes of tranfplanting prefent-
ly pra(5lifed in Great-Britain, but will alfo inflrud the gardener,
by plain, eafy, and certain methods, to remove mod of the va-
luable deciduovis Foreft Trees, to the height of thirty feet or up-
wards, with the fame fafety as the fmallefl plant ; and that fuch
will not only be as handlbme trees, but will ever after advance
as much in growth, as thofe ftanding in the fame kind of foil and
fituation, from having .been planted young ; and that they will,
without the expence of flaking, refift the moft impetuous winds,
the greateft enemy of new-planted trees raifed and managed in
the common way.

PREFACE. lii

From this culcure of the trees too they may be planted with
the mofl certain fuccefs, and without any feniible check to their
growth, during all the llimmer months, without any additional
expence, further than two or three extraordinary waterings.
This clrcumftaiice alone ought furely to be of much confidera-
tion in this climate, as our grounds in winter are ufually fo
much lock'd up with froft, flooded with rains, or the weather
otherw^ays fo intemperate, that our common planting feafon is
confined to a fmall part of fprlng and autumn. I fliould like-
wife imagine, that men of fortune, who fpend the winters in
town, could hardly be more agreeably entertained in the coun-
try, during the milder feafon, than in, as it were, creating (if I
may be allowed the phrafe) verdant groves, thickets, avenues, 6t.

Nor is this plan confined to deciduovis trees only ; it extends
to many of the bed kinds of Evergreens, the greateil part of
which are now generally thought unfit for planting, after four,
five, or fix years old : But here certain rules are given for remo-
ving them with the fiime fafety as the other kinds, to the height
of eight, ten, and twelve feet, according to their different fpecies.

On the fame principles likeways, and with the fame advanta-
ges, hedges of Thorns, and many other plants, may be remo-
ved, that will immediately refill cattle, flicker the ground, and
fave the expence of ditches, palings, and other fences neceflliry
to protedl them when young.

To which is added, Obfcrvations , on the bejl methcd of plant-
ing Hedges^ adapted to 'various foils and fttuations. Any improve-
ment made on this lubjecl: is certainly of great and univerfal
a 2

iv PREFACE

concern to this kingdom. By this not having been prope-rly
adverted to, but left to the diretfhion of ignorant gardeners, or
common labourers, much difcouragement has been given to in-
clofmg with hedges ; and many perfons of fortune have, within
thefe few years, bellowed large fums in that way to very little
purpofe.

Several ufeful difcoveries are alfo fubjoined,on the improve-
ments that may be made by Grafting and Inoculation, on (locks
that will inlarge the fmaller kinds of plants,, and render the
tender more liardy.

Most of the modern authors on Gardening have boldly in-
cluded aU its various parts : This, I am afraid, is arrogating to
themfelves a reach of fancy and genius, that few, if any, have
yet difcovered a juft title to. Had tliey confined their writings
to fewer branches, they would have acquired more reputation,
and been more ufeful to their country. And here, I hujnbly
think, Mr Pope's caution to thofe indifcreet men who launch
beyond their depth, may with propriety be applied :

*' One fcience only will one genius fit ;

*' So vafl is art, fo narrow human wit :

*' Not only bounded to peculiar arts,

*' But oft' in thofe confin d to iingle parts."

I HAVE therefore in that refpecfl endeavoured to a^rail -myfelf,
from the unfuccefsful prefumption of others : Confcious as I am
of my contradcd abilities, and being doubtful of gratifying the
Public on the topics here prefcntcd, I have confined them to

PREFACE. V

a few, and thofe only that have in a particular manner engaged-
my attention, and of which I have had much experience.

To have the various productions of Gardening in any degree -
of perfedlion, I doubt we mufh inlarge our prefent plan, of keep-
ing one gardener only where much is to be done. I have for a.
fuccellion of years, and at different feafons, vifited with attention
many of the moil elegant and magnificent feats in Great-Bri»-ain,
but never once in my life have feen all the different branches of
the bufmefs properly executed, and the crops feafonably and
uniformly flourilhing, in regular progrefTion and beauty, under
the management of one man. And how indeed is it po.Tible it
fhould be? Every gardener has his favourite points, Avhich
will be firft and beft done, and every fpecics of garden-
ing mull be attended to at feveral periods of the year ; but, in
the fpring, much the greateil part of ail mufl be executed in a
few weeks. The kitchen-garden mufl be crop'd with its various
feeds and plants ; hot-beds mufl be made, and conflantly at-
tended to ; the green-houfe, hot-houfe, and llowcr -garden, will
emplo)r much of the principal gardener's time and perfonal la-
bour,— as will alfo the fruit-gardea, m pruning the efp^lier,
wall, and ilandard trees. Thefe differenc parts have indeed a
nearer connection than the others, and may v/ith propriety come
imder the diredlion of one man, wiiich, it he executes v\-ell, by
providing a large family, and elegant i..-.:e, in the great variety
of wliolefome luxury thefe gardens fhould abound vvnth, he will
iliTid no idle time to fpare, . though a perfon of knowledge
iii 'his -5pFdfefSon, arid' of tke greateil fobriety'vaM' iiidu-

Vi T R E F A C E.

The other principal part, £ornierlY called th.e P/eqfure-garden,
in all the (lately late deCgns, confifts chiefly in extenfive lawns,
Hiid 'fields bf grafs, interfperfed with large plantations of Foreft

• TYees and Flowering Shrubs, planted in the wildernels way. To

• execute, and (from bad feafons, with other accidents) even to
fupply the defedls of thefe works, as well as to keep up a provi-

■ {ion for inclofing .and planting the other parts of the eflate, a
niirfery ought always to be fupported. The planting, anniial
pruning, and culture of the foil in large wildernefs defigns, fo as
both to promote the growth, and reduce the trees to a beautiful
form, requires flcill and labour. To fow the feeds of Flowering
Shrubs, Fruit and Foreft Trees, — to increafe them by layers, cut-
tings, <ii'c. — to improve many kinds by grafting and inoculation,
— and to remove them at proper periods, giving them all other
ncceffiry culture, — is as much as any one man can fee executed
with judgment ; and whatever gardener holds thefe performances
in fo cheap a light as to allow their being conducted by his
common workmen, that moment he forfeits his pretenfions to
fenfe and ability in his bufmefs, if not to honefty alfo.

To men of plentiful fortunes then, who would promote all
the various branches of Gardening, and enjoy them with refine-
ment, I think two gardeners, for the different purpofes named,
fecm indifpenfibly neceffary : And I cannot help here proceeding
a little farther, humbly to reprefent, that the moft cfTcdlual me-
thod of promoting the more univerfal knowledge of the art in
this part of the kingdom, would be to give the gardener double
the encouragement we ufually do, as the prefent (I mean in ge-
neral) is extremely difproportioned to the importance of his
office.

PREFACE. vii

I MUST lay it down as a principle, that fome fmall degree of
learning at lead is neceffary to make a good gardener ; and what
fenfible man will beftow that on his fon, to qualify him for an
employment, that, to all appearance, and without fomc uncom-
monly favourable circumftance, will never gain him more than
fifteen or twenty pounds a year ? or what boy of fpirit and ge-
nius will ftudy a profcflion, from which he can only receive fo
poor a return ? It therefore appears to me very certain, that an
increafe of wages to thefe ufeful men, would, in a fliort time,
have moil defircable efFe6ts, and that we ihould then have at
command twenty intelligent gardeners, where we now perhaps
are at a lofs to find one ; .nor is it to be doubted the mafler would
gain in greater proportion than the fervant.

A GREAT man bellows from fifty to a himdred pounds a year
on a French cook ; for a Britilli gardener, feldom more than from
twenty to forty. I defpife all national reflections, and efleem an
honeft Frenchman of any profeflion, but in a particular manner
a French cook ; yet I can by no means think him intitled to fo
great an advantage above the other. Every body knows the befl
cook cannot furnifli out a handfome table without the afliflance
of a good gardener ; and perhaps there is as much judgment
required in raifmg materials of the befl quality, as in dreilmg
tliem well.

However, from what I have here faid, endeavouring to put
the gardener on the footing I think a good one deferves, I am,
as has been hinted, far from meaning to depreciate a good
French cook ; nor am I either clowniih or morofe enough, to
furmife, that a man of birth and opulence il^ould deny himfelf

die. elegance that attends the labours of thefe iududrlous men :
On the contrary, as the nature of my profeffion, in planning and
dcfigning ground works, has often procured me the honour of
fitting! atftlije bed tables, where I have often eat of diflies dreft in
tthe.Frfi-nqh ;manner, I muft acknowledge I ever thought them
bothiaa pleafant and healthful as the beft Britilh I had ever
tailed'. jNotvvith (landing which, I efteem the various labours of an
able gardener, to be of a nobler nature, and of more folid impor-
tance to every pei'fon, from a Prince to a private man, than all
the dilhes invented from the birth of Cleopatra to the prefent

M As inciofmg ground with hedges, and making plantations ot
Tored trees, are thefirfl: principles, and mod folid foundation for
promoting all the different branches of hufbandry and garden-
ing, our northern climate being highly improved by thefe
means, the grcatcfl encouragement is furely due from all lovers
of their country, to whoever lliall contribute to the executing
thefe important points, in a handfbmer, more fuccefsful, and
more expeditious manner than is generally pradlifcd, — though
I am forry to fay, we are lefs attentive to, and farther be-
hind in knowledge of the beil methods for effeding this, than
in mofl other improvements. We plainly fee, that, to procure
the quick growth .and comely figure of our own hardy native
plants, we muft give them the mutual aflillance of one another ;
and how much more neceflary flielter is in rearing tender foreign
trees and vegetables with any exuberance of growth, is too plain
to infill on. Tp that alone, then, we owe all the choicefl deli-
cacies of the table, and the more refined plcafiu'c of viewing
a vafb variety of die moft beautiful plants in nature, the

P R E r A C E. IX

originai procludlon of more temperate climates, flourifliing in
oxir open air.

As a good nurferyman can fooneft and mofl: effcdtually pro-
cure us fucli eflential advantages and pleafures, I cannot help
thinking him, forthefeand many other reafons, juftly intitled to
'be ranked in the higbeft clafs of gardeners ; but I am afraid this
is )nly the cafe with the few of found judgment, and extended
genius, — a-:d that with the general, the unthinking, and con-
tradled part, a man who can raife an early cucumber, or melon,
is in much higher eftimation, the', in all the various parts of the
profeffion, nothing is more plain and fimple, than thefe operati-
ons with the affiftance they have of glalTes and dung : To which
may be added, that the fubjeft of kitchen-gardening is much
more exhaufted than the culture of trees, from being more ge-
nerally pra(5lifed, as more eaiily undertaken. The returns of
profit from nurfery are tedious, and to proceed in it to any con-
fiderable degree, a man muft be wealthy, as he mufl long be
out of his money ; but the returns from the other being annual,
the ftock required for it fmall in comparifon, and the Ivixury of
the prefent times having raifed the price both of early and late
vegetables -very high, it becomes a more tempting bait for the
bulk of mankind ; whence good nurferymen, or good nurferies,
are not fo frequently to be found as covild be wilhed.

Notwithstanding the importance of a good nurfery-gar-
dener to his country, and the general efteem in which fuch have
formerly been held, that profeffion has lately fallen into much
contempt, and, in fome refpeds, for jull caufes. From the fuc-
cefs of a few fenfible judiciotis men in it, various impoftors
h

X PREFACE.

have {larted up, who, by the (Irength of a little money, and a
great deal of affurance, now affume that charader, the' un-
bred to, or unknowing in the meaneft branch of gardening, but
followers of the groffeft and moft unthinking employments^ in
direa oppofition to the cool obfcrvation and deliberate ftudy of
Nature in her admirable produclions. Some of thefe gentlemen
have fet out, by amufmg mankind, under no meaner pretence
than ferving their country, by reducing the price of trees : But
they are not confiderate enough themfelves to reflecfl, that an in-
telligent gardener will readily difcover their pracTiice as fubver-
iive of every improvement he can poffibly hope foon to make
from the purchafe of their plants, whicli are crowded together with
many times the number that ought to be in tlie fame quantity
of ground; from vv-hence they can well afford to fell their flunc-
ed, fmothered fluff, at a lower price than an honeft knowing
gardener can raife good plants for. To appear more formidable
too in this quackery, they have publifhed pompous catalogues
of they know not what, colledled I know not where, and ftrange:-
ly jumbled together no body knows how, of half the plants in
the creation, and fbme that I believe never were in it ; but ihey
have forgot to provide even fpecimens of many of thefe wonder-
ful producflions, and when you go to purchafe them, you have
the mortification to find they were fold the preceding week or day.
To thefe catalogues they have likeways affixed prices, in imitation
of feme petty nurferymen in the North of England, who, not
having abilities in their profeffion to pufli their way by the fale
of good plants to fkilful men, have had recourfe to this practice,
by felling bad ones at the expence of the ignorant and unwary.
I have been well acquainted with the pradli'ce of the moft emir-
ncut nurf^ymen in tlie South of England near tliirty years j

during wliich period, there is not any material difference in the
prices of the moft ufeful capital plants. They are generally an
honeft, fenfible, induftrious let of men, and their emulation is of
a virtuous kind, tending to public utility, as it confifts in who
fhall raife the beft, not the cheapeft trees, — fenfible that thefe
improperly cultivated are dear of any price, and that the great-
eft difference of prices is an inconfiderable circumflance, even
to a poor man, compared to the confequences that muft enfuc
from their having been of a good or ill quality.

It gives me the moft fenfible pain to be under the neceffity of
faying any thing that has the appearance of feverity or ill nar-
ture, as I hold in the greateft abhorrence and deteftation, every
principle tending to traduce an honeft well-meaning man, I have
the comfort however to think, that none fuch will be offended
with what I have faid in the prefent cafe ; but be that as it may,
I am certainly bound, by all the ties of truth, and gratitude to
my country, to deted: whatever errors I difcover on a fubjecl
that is the bafis of its gi-eateft improvements, and which not at-
tended to, but the prefent defeds in the culture of trees and
hedge-plants allowed to proceed, muft terminate in at leaft great-
ly retarding that cultivation our farms and gardens would other-
ways admit of. ,....., in I .

I ESTEEM every honeft judicious nurferyman in the kingdom,
and moft heartily wifti their number increafed. To many of them
I have reprefented the ill confequences that muft naturally arife
from not beftowing proper culture on their plants : The common
return is, that others felling their crowded, half-fuffocated ones,
at a price below what they can afford to raife them for at proper
b 2

xii PREFACE.

diflances, and to give them proper removals, they are conftraiii-
ed to go with the cnrrent, many purchafers not being ikilful e-
nough to eflimate the value of a tree by any other ftandard than its-
height, without attending to the far more effential circumflances
of its roots, tliicknefs, and proportion. To thefe defences I have
ever obferved, what I am certain would have been the cafe, that
a perfeverance in the beft pra<ftice would foon flop the progrefs.
of thefe invaders, and make them fenlible of their inabihty to
overcome the honefty and induftry of good gardeners, and that
as tliey had darted up like mullirooms, they would vanifh like
fmoak ; but if thofe who ought to know better will adopt their
pernicious principles, it is hard to fay how or when they may
flop, if vigorous meafures are not ufcd to oppofe them.

In this cafe, if felf-interefl is juflly confidered, independent of
other more facred confiderations, the Scots nurferymen and feeds-
men have the mofl flattering example before their eyes, to animate
them in the purfuit of fuch a practice as I have here endeavour-
ed to recommend ; and that is, in two perfons, a father and
fon, of their profeflion, who, having made it an invariable rule
in bufmefs, notwithftanding whatever prefent lofs they might
fuflain, to fell no articles but the moll excellent of their kinds,
foon were juflly ellabliflied in fo extenfive a reputation and trade,
as has acquired them large fortunes, witli vmblemiflied charac-
ters, and that too perhaps with greater eafe, than many others
have procured a fcanty fubfiflence, whofe principles were not efla-
blifhed on ib rationed and folid a foundation. I have no inten-
tion to flatter by this remark. I never hud any obligations to,
or connei^ions with the parties I mean, nor have any further
knovdedgc of them tlian their charac?i.crs and faces ; but, on tlie

PREFACE. xiii

prelent fubie<fl, I will neither applaud a friend, nor detracfl from
an enemy, without jviit grounds, but tell my uiadilguifed fcnti-
ments upon it to the beft of my knowledge,— and fhall venture to
predid, that whoever fteadlly adheres to the pradice of thcie who
have been mentioned as examples, will, in fome degree, partake
of tlicir good fortune.

The pradice I have here advifed is plain, and eafily executed,
nor can I believe any man of refledion will doubt of its fuccefs :
But how unlucky would feme of our late fanguine. undertakers
be, who having endeavoured, at confaderable expence, to merit
the favour of the Public, by the redudion of prices, the preven-
tion of impoiltion from others, and the extirpation of all garde-
ners who oppofe their public-ipirited plans, — how lam.entable in-
deed, if, after all thefe worthy attempts, which they have pub-
lilhed in . fo , modeft and affeding a manner, their tlaanklefj
country faould negled bellowing on them either an increafe,.^
reputation or wealth !

To flop the fad increafing evil of nurferymcn (or rhofe Vvhp
call themfelves fo) felling bad plants, to the general difcourage-
ment of improvements, would Ihow a truly public fpirit ; but
I am afraid no private obfervations or communications, how-
ever ju(l and well meant, will anfwer the end defired, particu-
larly from one of the profeflion ; and that, to effeduate the cure,
(than which I conceive nothing more eafy), the Public muft be
the phyfician.

Every body knows the general and amazingly good effeds of
the preiiiiums given by the Commiflioujui's and Tr.udces for

xvi P 11 E F A C E;

bafc the deceit is, and how fliocking to the peiiba thus deceived,
life being too fliort of::en to repair thefe misfortunes. Such
circumllances however are far from being iincommon, and too
iiiaiay gentlemen in Scotland will fhake their heads Avith hearty
eoncerri on the remembrance of fimilar cafes, and leccnd me in
die juftice of this obfervation, and how neccfFary it is to be
caxitious in the choice of narferymen.

It has been an almoft univcr-.^iUy received opinion, tliat fi'ecs
ought to bo raifed in the nurfery on a poor- r foil than thr-t lO
which tliey are afterwards to b'" tran<^;^orted for good ; and it
has been dire6led by many, otherways the mod refpeclable au-
thors. I muft acknowledge this dodbine has a very fpecious
appearance at firft view : I adhered to it early in life, and it is
fo ie^mingly corififtent with Nature, that I am not furprized it
has been generally adopted by young planters ; at the fame time,
I cannot account for thofe who have had much pradlice, and
long experience, not expofmg the errors of it.

In the following flieets I have given fome examxples, from
frequently repeated experiments, of the ill efietis I have felt
by planting young and tender feedllngs in the poorefl foils,
and the greater fuccefs attending thofe that were well-grown,
on the fame, or in fmiilar fituations. The confequcnces of raifmg
plants on poor hungry land, are no lefs fatal than planting the
fecdlings in fuch, and fliould as much as pofTible be avoided. I
have mentioned, in the culture of many trees, the neceflity of pro-
moting their vigorous growth at firft, in order to their becoming
ftatoly and handfome ; nor can this be eff-cled by any other
means than being early nurfed in generous foil, for whatever

P R E r A C Ti. xvli

future purpofes they are meant, or to whatever fituations they
are deftined ; and that i< they are but barely fupported from in-
fancy on meagre ground, they will never aftenA-ards becomr
ftrong, though removed to that which is rich and feeding. The
caufes for this, when the fubjedl is fearched to the bottom, are
•demonfti'ably plain : From their harfli and unfriendly food they
eontrad difeafes, which, if not immediately mortal, are certain-
ly incurable ; they neceffarily have bad roots, they are hide-
bound, and their branches weak and crooked y in fliort, tho"
they m.ay long languilh in the_ Hate of buflies, they will never
arrive to the magnitude of what may properly be called trees.

But though I have advifed trees to be raifed on good land,
let it be xmderftood, I mean that only which is naturally fo,
and not what has lately been forced and pampered with dung,
or at leaft before that dung has been mellowed and reduced to
the coniiftence of earth, fuch being yet more baneful to trees in
^general, than even the poorefl: foils.

I AM not furprifed at the frequent complaints made by Gentle-
men, on the trees they often have from the nurferies about Edin-
burgli. I know from fome quarters they have too good caufe for
fuch complaints. I have feen confiderable portions of thefe gar-
dens covered five or fix inches deep with new-made horfe and cow
dung, immediately dug into the ground, and, without the in-
tervention of a fingle week, planted with trees and hedge-plants.
I fliould be forry to think, nor do I believe, that many of my
readers will require a defcription of the effecSls arifing from tliis
fliamelefs pradice; but, to the few yet quite uninformed, I fliall
only mention, that from this corruption at the root of the

c

xvUi PREFACE.

plant, after {landing fome time, it will become bliftercd, whicR
bliftcrs will contain vermin, and thefe vermin, by eating the
roots, occafion a fefler, that, communicating with the juices
in the body, will contaminate it alfo, make it become fcabbed
and hide-bound, to a degree no remedy will cure, — and in this
ugly ftate the tree grows annually weaker, till it periili. This'
infeaion, however, does not foon difcover itfelf, as, for fome
years, from the abundance though groffnefs of its food, it will
make prodigious ihoots,— and, from thefe unnatural Ihoots, they
are boafted of as fine healthful plants, without relieaing on the^
latent poifon in their veins.. , . .-

)?! YlfIO0 V

I KNOW not if I may be indulged in venturing to make fomr
diftant comparifon between thefe plants (animated as they feem-
, at firfl with the rank firey particles of new dung) and a man wha
drinks exceffively of brandy, or other fpirituous liquors : The one
exults for a time in immoderate, tho' falfe wit and gaiety ; the
other feem to fmile in the difplay of a no lefs extravagant
growth ; but both, in the long run, become difeafed, faint, and.
languid. Whether 1 am right in this obfervation, I fliall not pre-
tend to determine ; but I certainly believe I am, in thinking a nur-
feryman, who is guilty of this fraud, more hurtful to the Public,
and better intitled to banifhment, than fome poor rogues I have
known undergo that fentcnce : Such charaders, however, I know ;
but it is my bufmefs only to expofe bad pradlices, not bad
men. It is thefe, and other circumftances of ill management,
that have chiefly founded the common report, of trees raifed on
good foils not afterwards fucceeding in that which is worfe, — tho'
there is nothing I can with more confidence alTure my readers of,
than that I have had very many of the clearell demonflrations to
jhe contrary, where the plants were cultivated with judgment.

PREFACE. XIX

Tn works of this kind, it is common to have a long diflertation
von the foils moft proper to be chofen for raifing nurfery ; but this
has generally appeared to me only an innocent method of fwell-
ing a book, when an author is coflive in furnilhing other mate-
rials. I have defcribed the foils that the different plants treated
•of mod affe(5l, and the bed manner of preparing thefe foils, at the
fame time with the other circumftances of culture, which I
imagine is the fubftantial part of all that can be faid on the fvib-
jedl. With refpecl to the choice of foil, people muft in general
put up witli the befl they can get, as he muft be either a very
cunning, or very lucky gardener, who fliall difcover fo flnall a
fpot of ground as is commonly reqxiired for a nurfery-garden,
confifting of as many variotis qualities as will be agreeable to
all the plants neceffary there to be raifed : This mufl be the ef-
fedl of judgment and labour, nor does Nature often admit of our
enjoying fuch advantages but by the fweat of our brow. I fliall
therefore only further obferve, that the moil defirable foil for a
nurfery, is that which is loofe and dry, reduced to the fmalleft
particles by frequent digging and raking, and which, if of a ge-
nerous nature, does not require great depth ; but the worft qua-
lity of the worft land, is that which nearefl approaches to heavy
moift clay, wherein the trees will neitlier root liberally, nor our
ufual weather in winter and fpring admit of its being laboured,
but at particular, and frequently too late periods ; whence it is
impofTible, that bufinefs can be carried on to any confiderablc
extent, feafonably, in fuch grounds.

I HAVE faid fo much, on various occafions in the following
Treatife, of the difadvantages the kingdom fuftains from the ig-
aorant or ill-defigned culture of plants, as probably to be accufed
c 2

XX PREFACE.

of repetition. If I fliould be fo, I fhall not endeavour to defend my-
felf, as in truth 1 could not eaiily avoid it ; for where the errors are
very grofs, and their correaion. of fo much moment, I imagine
juft impreflions of them cannot be too deeply rooted : In which
cafe, I flatter myfelf, a fault of this kind may probably pafs
as a more pardonable fpecies of bad writing, than fome others.

V .

It may probably be objedled by fome, that tranfplanting large
trees has often been praclifed without fuccels. This is a melan-
choly truth, too glaring to be denied ; tho' the reafons for it-
are no lefs obvious, — they have proceeded withotit judgment,,
and their mifcarriages were a natiu-al confequence. But in this
Treatife the former errors are corre61:ed, and a rational fyftem,
founded on Nature, and confirmed by experience, difclofed.

Large trees raifed and cultivated after this manner, fo far
from fucceeding worfe than thofe planted young, will, from their
much greater abundance- of roots fprcading near the furface, and
enjoying all the benefits of the heavenly influences, grow much
more freely, than fuch whofe roots, being deeper, are ftruggling
with cold, fluggifli, inanimated foil.

AViiEN a man has made a plantation of young trees, his la-
bours, as has been hinted, are but begun ; but by following this
pracflice, they are ended, as the plants, being above the fize of re-
ceiving injury from cattle, and reduced to their proper form by
different prunings, require little or no further attention..

By adopting this inode of ctilture too, a perfon who will at once
ralle or purchafe as many of the better kinds of young trees a^

PREFACE. xxi

anfwer his future defigns, tho' he is twenty years in executing
his plan, may, at the end of that time, have his ornamental
plantations of equal fize and beauty.

It has been a great difcouragement, and is a frequent obfer-
vation made by men advanced in years, that from the fmall fize
of trees ufually planted, they cannot hope to fee them in any
great degree of beauty or perfecftion during their lives. By fol-
lowing the rules here laid down, this difcouragement will be
entirely removed ; and fuch as are above the regard of common
expence, may have a flourilhing plantation of well-grown trees
in one feafon, as the principles on which the whole of the plan
proceeds are infallibly certain, and ought to be convincing, even
on perufal of the work, to every perfon of an ordinary capacity,
and moderate knowledge of Gardening.

In fome papers of the Speclator, on the pleafures of imagina--
tion, we have a moll raviihing defcription of an Evergreen, or
Winter Garden. Mr Addiibn, the author of thefe papers, from
a clofe attention to his immortal writings, was not much Ikilled
in the pradical parts of Gardening, but, when difengaged from
more intenfe ftudies, it was his favourite amufement ; and a'^ the
flighteft obfervations of fo great a man are infinitely preferable
to the mofl laboured precifion of an inferior genius, of all the
later defcriptions I have read, or plans fecn executed, I iiever
was fo much animated on that fab] eel as from the hints he has
dirown out, tho' the defigns for gardens in his time were of a
much more contracTied kind than now, and lefs imitative of the
charming negligence of Nature. But after vxhat he has faid, for
me to inlarge on the comfort and pleafur= ilich a pln.cc, not

xxll PREFACE.

diftant from the lioufc, and well difpored, muft afford during
feva-al of our winter months, would be the higheft prefumption
and vanity : Therefore I iliall only obferve, that I cannot help
looking on it as a capital defecl Ln our elegant and extended de-
figns, that no attention is paid to a circumftance fo conducive to
health, and produtlive of pleafure.

Having endeavoured to avoid extending this Treatife to any
unneceflliry length, in the catalogues of the plants I have only
given the different fpecies, their commonly received names in
England and Scotland, their botanical characters being univsr-
{iilly known to the Learned, and of no ufe to the young and illi-
terate gardener, but in ibme cafes might more probably perplex
and confufc him, and, till he is a little advanced in the know-
ledge of Botany, rather cxpofe his ignorance, than eftabliih
his reputation for judgment.

In like manner I have abridged the catalogues of many
authors, fome of whom have wrote without experience of what
they recommend, and others, either more ignorant or defigning,
have given or created different names to the fame plant. This,
I can honeflly affure my readers, I have carefully guarded againft.
The fpecies I have mentioned are dlftind, and I have recom-
mended none but thofe that from experience I believed worthy
of it.

The common ufcs and virtues of the timber of fuch trees as
are not frequently cut down with us, I have principally taken
from Mr Evelyn, as Mr Miller had done before me ; but to thefe
I have added other well-attefled circumftances relating to them.

F R E F A C E. xxlli

No book oil Gardening can now be altogether original, from
the many great improvements made ; but the fubjedl will yet
admit of very many advances towards the more perfedl know-
ledge of it. It is far from my intention to introduce novel
doclrine, or to make innovations on the general culture of
plants, where I have not found it defeilive. But this I have
by no means done : 1 have, as others ufually do in early life,
taken many hints from different authors, and examples froin
pradical gardeners, tried their effedls, and, where fuccefsful,
have followed and diredled them : But I have not refted fatis-
fied with what may be called bare fuccefs ; I have endeavoured
to improve on the befl: rules I knew, to aboliili fome others
altogether, fubflituting better in their place, and, for the gene-
ral fyftem of culture here directed, I am unconfcious of being
indebted to any author or other man. That I have many years
ago fucceeded in my own pracftice by following the fyftem
here laid down, I have tlie moll inconteftible evidence to ad-
duce ; but to convince unbelievers at a diftance, mull be the
effedl of trial, which is all 1 require. In the mean time, I
Ihall liften to the voice of the Pubhc with the greateft refpea
and deference, and, as far as in my power, amend whatever
errors are juftly pointed at.

Having mentioned Mr Evelyn, I muft here cxprefs the fen-
fible pleafure I feel, from hearing a fine imprellion of his Silva,
with notes by fome Gentlemen of approved learning, and know-
ledge of Gardening-, is now printing. His obfervations on the
culture of young plants in the feed-bed and nurfery, tho' the
beft publiilied before or during his time, are fince then much
improved, and they now bcccme the lead valuable part of his
work ; but the additions ajul remarks on thefc, Vvlth the otlicr
eflential improvements tliat will apparently be made, muft rendcc

xMv P R E F A C r..

it the mud valuable book on the I'ubjecl ever appeared. His juft
eiicomiums on the plealures and advantages ariiing from well-
cultivated plantations, if attentively read by yoiing men of edu-
cation and fortune, muft animate all but tl^e moft taftelefs and
dull to the piirfuits of Gardening ; and feme of his chapters to
that purpofe, ought to be recorded in capital letters of gold, and
hung up in the dining-rooms of all rich men who love their coun-
try, or mean to give the moft ftriking exam.ple of true patriotifin
to the prefent and fucceeding generations.

I AM far from the vanity of believing, that maiiy juft refteclions
may not be thrown out againft the following Treatife, Tho' I
have had much experience in the culture of trees, I have none
fi'om writing in ib public a manner ; and my moft fanguine
expedations will be accompliihed, if an abler pen will improve
and extend my hints in a more maftcrly way, — -to whom I Ihall
be happy to communicate any farther obfervations I am capable
■of making.

From fhowing my manufcript, (which I have often done with-
out ceremony), and fome of the contents tranfpiring, I am already
fcnfibie of having enemies amongft fome of the nurferymen. I
cannot help it, having; done but my duty, I wifli none of them
ill, and defire them, for their own fakes only, to refled:, that till
they refute my arguments, their enmity to me will but the more
expofe themfelves : — I fhould be ungrateful at the fame time, if
I meant that to be underftood of the profcflion in general, as I
have the pleafure to believe, it is not the greater part of them,
or thofe moft formidable, for knowledge at leaft, that are fo ill
inclined.

PREFACE. XXV

i AM fenfible the humble flilc of this work may render it
obnoxious to fome of the many Critics with which this age
abounds, who may difplay their learning, if not ill-nature, at
my expence, though ignorant of the fubjed on which I treat.
To the corredlion of the fenfible and candid I will patiently fub-
mit, and endeavour to improve myfelf from their obfervations :
But the partial and fnarling fpecies of them, I hold in the great-
eft contempt ; for as fuch can neither afFe6l my intereit nor re-
putation, they fliall be unable to ruffle my temper. I acknow-
ledge myfelf incapable of adorning my fubjedl with the beauties
of language, or, if I were, fliould I be very foUicitous about it :
For though I have reafon to believe this limple Treatife will be
admitted into many libraries, both of the Great and Learned, yet
if the principles of culture on which I proceed are juft, their
politenefs and humanity will excufe other defedls ; to which I
muft add, that it is far from being intended for fuch alone,
but no lefs to iaftruct the ignorant and illiterate gardener
(to whom the plaineft language is furely the beft) in fuch
practices as will improve our plantations, both in point of beau-
ty and profit. I have not ventured however on this {)ublication,
without the approbation of levcral Gentlemen of candour, learn-
ing, and knowledge in Gaixlening, — and by them 1 liave been
perfuaded to give it to die Public in my own homely drefs,
wherein alone it now appears, and which is the more agreeable
to me, as I have ever thought, that even the difguife of another
man's language is a kind of impofition on the world, and that
it is but juft to publilh one's own fentiments in one's own way.

I SHALL only further intimate to thofe (if any fuch there be)
who feel themfelves fore from vrhat I have written, that no
d

xxvl PREFACE.

fooner will I have an opportunity, than give them the niofl con-
vincing proof of the rectitude of my intentions, and that I have
no perfonal refentment at any one of them : — That the obferva-
tions I have made on the general bad culture of trees, are appa-
rently too juft, and that confequently it was jny indifpenfible
duty, when writing on a fubjedl of fuch univerfal concern,
to detect the errors I difcovered, as the only means of having
them amended. Whoever begins to renounce his former
ill pradices, I Ihall, with fuperior pleafure, in place of the
painful fenfations 1 have felt from what is faid, exert my utmoft
endeavours, and ufe the ftrongeft expreffions I am capable of,
by applauding them in the moft public manner ; and if com-
mvmicating the effetfts of my experience is thought worthy
their notice, they may, from the fmcerity of my heart, com-
mand me vvlth the moft xmreferved freedom. The greater
part of them will probably, and I hope juftly, think them-
felves above fo mean an affiftance, yet the young and unexperi-
enced may reap feme advantage by it.

I WERE umvorthy the indulgence I have received from the
Public in general, and ungrateful to my Subfcribers in particu.-
lar, to conclude this, without expreffing (what I truly feel) the
warmeft gratitude for the affiftance their liberal fubfcription af-
forded me in carrying on this publication. The quality, if not
the number of thofe, does me honour, as I can boaft of many
the greateft and moft refpedtable names in the kingdom ; and
if I am fortunate enough to have contributed to the good of my
country, and of confequence to their pleafure or advantage, I
have obtained the higheft reward my moft fanguine hopes ever
pointed at.

[ xxvu ]

SUBSCRIBERS NAMES,

A
His Grace the Duke of Argyll, 4 Books.
His Grace the Duke of Atholl, 4 Books.
Right Hon. the Earl of Aberdeen, 2 Books..
Lieutenant-General James Abercromby.
Hon. Lord Auchinleck, one of the Senators of the College of

Jullice.
Hon. Lord Alva, one of the Senators of the College of Juitice.
Hon. Lord Alemoor, one of tJie Senators of the College of Jvi-

ftice.
Alexander Auchyndachy of Kincragie, Efq; advocate.
Alexander Alifon, Efq; deputy-cafhier of Excife.
James Abercromby of Brvicefield, Efq;
John Adam, Efq; architect.
Thomas Adair, Efq;
Alexander Arbuthnott, Efq;
Mr Robert Anderfon nurferyman and feedfman, 2 Books.

B

His Grace the Duke of Buccleugh, 2 Books.
Right Hon. the Earl of Buchan.
Right Hon. the Earl of Balcarras.
Right Hon. Lord Belhaven.

Hon. George BaiUie of Jarvifwood, Efq; 2 Books.
da.

rsvln SUBSCRIBERS.

Sir Alexander Burnet of Leys, Baronet.

Major-Gcneral Boyd.

Captain Alexander Baillie of Parbroath, Efq;

George Brown of Eliitlon, Efq; one of the Commlflloners of

Excife.
William Baillie of Polkemmet, Efq; advocate.
Andrew Balfour, Efq; advocate.
Rev. Dr Hugh Blair, profellbr of Rhetorick and Belles Lettres

in the univerfity of Edinburgh.
Jofeph Banks, Efc}; London.
James Bruce of Kinrofs, Efq;
James Buchanan of Driunpiller, Efq;
Thomas Brovfn of Braid, Elq;
Hary Barely of Killernie, Efqj
James Brodic of Brodie, Efq;
Adam Blair of Blair, Efq;
Henry Butter of Pitlochry, Efqj
Elenry Betluine, Efq;
Robert Bontine of Ardoch, Efq;
John Baird, Efq; merchant in Glafgow.
Dr Pvobert Barclay, 2 Books.

Mr William Borthwick feedfman in Edinburgh, 4 Books.
Mr James Bayne land-furveyor and defigner of ground.
Mr John Burrel chamberlain of Kinniel, 3 i Books.

C

Right Hon. the Earl of Crawford.
Right Hon. Lord Cathcart.

Ilight Hon. Lord Frederick Campbell, Lord-Rcgifter of Scot-
land.

SUBSCRIBERS. xxlx

■Right Hon, Lord Colvill.

Right Hon. Lord Cranfton, 2 Books.

Hon. Lord Coalfton, one of the Senators of the College of Juftice.

Sir James Clerk of Pennyculck, Baronet.

Sir James Cockburn, Baronet, heretable uiher of the Wliitc

Rod, 2 Books.
Sir William-Augullus Cunnyngham, Baronet,
Sir James Colquhoun of Lufs, Baronet.
Sir Walter Montgomery-Cuningham, Baronet,

Major-General Sir Eyre Coote, Baronet.

Major-General Henry Campbell of Boquhan.

Col. James Mure-Campbell of Lawers, Efq;

Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Campbell.

Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Campbell, late 95th regiment.

John Campbell-Hooke, Efq; Lord Lyon King at Arms.

Archibald Cockburn of Cockpen, Efq; flieriff-depute of Mid-
Lothian.

Hay Campbell, Efq; advocate.

Andrew Crofbie, Efq; advocate.

George Cockburn of Gleneigles, Efq; advocate.

Walter Campbell, Efq; advocate.

Donald Campbell, Efq;

Archibald Campbell of Alkamell, Efq;

James Cathcart, Efq;

John-William Crawfurd of Crawfordland, Efq;

Allan Cameron of GlendefTarle, Efq; i 3 Books.
Patrick Crawfurd of Auchinames, Efq;
James Goodlatt-Campbell of Achline, Efq;
John Crawfurd of Doonfide, Efq;
James Coutts, Efq; London.

:xx SUBSCRIBERS.

Robert Chalmers, Efq;

Daniel Campbell of Shawfield, Efq; 2 Books.

James Cheap of Sauchie, Efq;

Carruthers of Holmains, Efq;

George Carnegie of Pitarrow, Efq;

John Campbell of Otter, Efq;

Captain Robert Campbell of Monzie, Efqj:

Thomas Craig of Pvicarton, Efq;

Robert Campbell of Finab, Efq;

James Carmichael of Hailes, Efq;

John Campbell of Skipnefs, Efq;,

Archibald Chriftie, Efq;

Alexander Cunnyngham of Lathriefli, Efq; one of the clerks,

to the lignet,
David Campbell, Efq; one of the clerks to the fignet.
Dr William Cullen phyfician in Edinburgh.
Rev. Dr Carlyle minifter of Inverelk.
Mr George Cunningham of the Cviftoms.
Mr Lewis Cauvin, teacher of the French lang\iage.

D

Right Hon. the Earl of Dundonald.

Right Hon. the Earl of Dalhoufie.

Right Hon. tlie Earl of Dunmore.

Right Hon. Sir Laurence Dundas, Baronet, z Books.

Right Hon. Robert Dundas, Efq; Lord Prcfident of the Court

of Scfllon.
Right Hon. Henry Dundas, Efq; Lord Advocate for Scotland.
Hon. Ai-chibald Douglas of Douglas, Efq; 2 Books,
Hon. Arthur Dulf, Efq; advocate.

SUBSCRIBERS

Sir William Dalrymple of Cranfton, Baronet.

Sir James Dunbar of Mochrum, Baronet.

Sir Alexander Dick of Preftonfield, Baronet.

Colonel James Douglas, 3d regiment of Guards.

William Duff, Efq; flieriff-depute of Ayrlhire.

David Dalrymple, Efq; advocate,

James Dunbar of Dorn, Efq; advocate.

John Douglas of Tilliwhilly, Efq; advocate.

James Sholto-Douglas, Efq; advocate.

James Dickfon, Efq; advocate.

John Dalrymple, Efq; merchant in Edinb\u-gh.

Thomas Dundafs of Caftlecary, Efq; 2 Books.

James Dundas of Dundas, Efq;

James Dickfon of Broughton, Efq;

Robert Drummond of Pitkellony, Efq;

James Dewar of Vogrie, Efq;

James Dallas of Parkly, Efq;

William Douglas, Efq;

George Dempfter of Dunlchen, Efq;

Charles Dalrymple of Orangefield, Efq;

Henry Drummond, Efq; banker, London.

David Dickfon of Kilbucho, Efq;

William Dickfon, Efq; of Kilbiicho, junior.

William Douglas of Kellhead, Efq;

Charles Dalrymple of North-Berwick, Efq; 2 Books.

John Davidfon of Revelrig, Efq;

Mr Thomas Dallas furgeon in Muffelburgh.

Mr Archibald Dickfon nurferyman at Haffendean-burn,

ivlr John Darling gardener at Pinkie.

SUBSCRIBERS.

Right Hon. the Earl of Errol, 2 Books.

Right Hon. the Earl of Eglintoun, 3 Books.

Right Hon. the Earl of Elgin.

Right Hon. Lord Elphinfton.

Right Hon. Lord Elibank,

Right Hon. Sir Gilbert Elliot of Minto, Baronet.

Hon. Lord EUiock, one of the Senators of the College of Juftice,

Hon. Jo. J. F. Erlldne of Mar, Efq;

Sir Francis Elliot of Stobs, Baronet.

Sir William Erflcine, Baronet.

Alexander Elphiflon of Glack, Efq; advocate..

Peter Edgar of Marchfield, Efq;

James Edmonftone of Longfaiigh, Efq;

Mr WiUiam Elliot writer in Edinburgh,

F
Right Hon. the Earl of Finlater, 4 Books,
Right Hon. Lord Forbes.
fiiv Adam Fergufon af Kilkerran, Baronet.
Sir Arthur Forbes of Craigievar, Baronet.
William Forbes-Leith, Efq; advocate.
John Fordyce of Ayton, Efq; 2 Books.
William Fullerton of Lockhart-hall, Efq;
William Finlay of Croftangry, Efq;
James Fergufon, Efq; of Pitfour, junior.
William Fullerton of Rjofcmount, Efq;
Malcolm Fleming of Barochan, Efq;
Richard Fiflier, Efcj;
James Forreft of Comlfton, Efq;

SUBSCRIBERS.

SXXlll

John Foiilis of Rofeholm, Efq; 7 Books.

George Forbes, Efq; Bedford-ftreet, London.

James Farquharfon of Invercal, Efq;

Andrew Fletcher of Salton, Efq;

Captain John Forbes of New.

Captain Thomas Fullerton of Gallery, Efq^

Francis Farquliarfon of Finzean, Efq;

Thomas Forrefter of Denovan, Efq;

John Forbes of Culloden, Efq;

Charles Fordyce, Efq; London,

James Geddes, Efq;

Rev. Robert Finlay of Drvimmore, Efq;

Meir. Robert and Andrew Foulis, printers to the univeriity of

Glafgow,

G
His Grace the Duke of Gordon, 2 Books.
Right Hon. the Earl of Galloway, 2 Books.
Right Hon. the Earl of Glafgow, 2 Books.
Right Hon. the Earl of Glencairn.
Right Hon. Lord Gray.
Right Hon, Lord Glenorchy.
Right Hon. Lord Adam Gordon, 2 Books.
Hon. Lord Gardenflon, one of the Senators of the College of

Jnftice, 2 Books.
Sir Thomas Gafcoigne of Parlington, Baronet.
Sir Archibald Grant of Monymuflc, Baronet, 2 Books.
Sir Ludovick Grant of Grant, Baronet.
Sir Alexander Gilmour of Craigmiller, Baronet.
Lieutenant-General David Graem.
Thomas Graem of Balgowan, Efq;
e

axlv S U B S C R 1 B K R S.

V/iliiam Graham of Airtli, Efq;

. Graham of Workraw, Efq;

Robert Gardiner, Efq; ifoTKH ,.

lames Garthfliore of Alderfton, Efq;

James Glen of Long-Clroft, E,fq;

Captain Gilchrift of Amisfield, Efq;

Alexander Gordon of Whiteleys, Efq;

David Gavin of Langton, Efq;

James Guthrie, Efq;

Charles Gafcoigne, Efq;

Alexander Gibfon of Durie, . Efq;

William Gordon, Efq;

John Glafsford of Dougleflon, Eiq;

George Ciray, Efq;

Robert Graham of Fintry, Efq; 2 Books.

Patrick Graeme, Efq; advocate.

Alexander Gray, Efq; one of the clerks to the fignet.

Mr Richard Gardner of the Cufcoms.

Mr John Gardner of the Culloms.

H

Right Hon. the Earl of Hadinton, 2 Booh.

Right Hon. the Earl of Hopeton, 2 Books.

Right Hon. the Earl of Elome.

Right Hon. the Earl of Hyndford.

Right Hon. Lord Haddo.

Right Hon. Lord Archibald Hamilton.

Hon. Lord Hailes, one of the Senators of the College of Jufllce.

Jion. Charles Hope-Weir, Efq; 2 Books.

Sir Robert Hendcrfon of Fordel, Baronet.

SUBSCRIBERS. xxxv

Sir Archibald Hope, Baronet.
Sir John Home of Renton, Baronet.
Sir Thomas Hay of Alderfton, Baronet.
Alexander Hay of Drumelzier, Efq;
Alexander Hay of Mordington, Efq;
Robert Hepburn of Clerkington, Efq;
Alexander Home of Manderfton, Efq;
James Hamilton of Bangour, Efq;
Alexander Hunter of Polmood, Efq;
Hugh Hathorn of Cafllewigg, Efq;
John Elamilton of Sundrum, Efq;
Alexander Hamilton of Rofehall, Efq;.

Elume of Gemellhiels, Efq;

Thomas Elog of Newlifton, Efq;
William Hay, Efq; one of the clerks to the fignet.
William Haggerfton-Gonflable, Efcj;
William Halkerfton of Rathillet, Efq;
Dr James Hay of Hayfton, phylician in Edinburgh.
Dr John Hope profeifor of Botany in the University of Edin-
burgh, 2 Books.
Rev. Mr Gilbert Hamilton minifter of Cramond.
Mr John Hunter gardener to Lord. Elliock.

I

Right Hon. Vifcoxint Irv/in, 2 Books.
Sir Adam Inglis of Cram-ond, Bai-onet.
Alexander Innes of Cathlaw, Efq;
Alexander Johnfton of Stratoun, Efq;
WiUiam Irving of Bonfhaw, Efq;

sxxvi SUBSCRIBERS,

John Johnflon, Elq; writer in Edinbiu'gh.

Mr William Jamelbn archited;.

Mr Stanley Joyce nurferyman, Ncvvcaftle.

K

Right Hon. Lord Vifcount Kenmore.

Right Hon. Lord Kinnaird,

Hon. Lord Kennet, one of the Senators of the College of Ji

ftice.
Hon. David Kennedy, Efq; advocate.
Charles Ker of Wells, Efq;.
Alexander Keith of Revellton, Efq;
Captain James Kydd.
Mr Gavin Kempt.

L
Moa Hon. the Marquis of Lothian, z Books.
Right Hon. the Earl of Loudon.
Right Hon. the Earl of Leven.
Right Hon. the Earl of Lauderdale, z Boob,
Sir Andrew Lawder, Baronet.
Sir Robert Laurie, Baronet.,
General Lockhart of Carnwath.
Captain James Lumfdain of Invergelly, Efq;
Captain Francis Lindfay.

William-Charles Little of Libberton, Efq; advocate.
James Lockhart of Camnetlien, Efq;
John Lamont of Lamont, Efq;
William Lock, Efq;
William Lennox, Efq;
Jolui-Frederick Loof, Efq;

SUBSCRIBERS. xxxvli

Mr John Leflie land-furveyor.

Mr Andrew Lochie Icedfman in Kelfo.

M

His Grace the Duke of Montagu, 2 Books.

His Grace the Duke of Montrofe, 2 Books.

Right Hon. the Earl of Marclunont, 2 Books,

Right Hon. the Earl of Morton, 2 Books.

Right Hon. the Earl of Moray.

Right Hon. the Earl of Dumfries.

Right Hon. Lord John Murray.

Right Hon. James Montgomery, Lord Chief Baron of Ey-
cheqvier, 2 Books.

Right Hon. Thomas Miller, Lord Juflice Clerk.

Hon. Baron John Maule.

Hon. George Murray, Efq;

Sir Alexander M'Donald, Baronet.

Sir Robert Myrton of Gogar, Baronet..

Sir Robert Murray, Baronet.

Sir William Maxwell of Monreith, Baronet, 2 Books.

Sir William Murray of Ochtertyre, Baronet.

Sir William Maxwell of Springkell, Baronet.

Sir Harry Munro, Baronet.

Colonel Monypenny.

Colonel James Mafterton.

Archibald Menzies of Culdares, Efq; one of the Commiflloners
of the Cuftoms.

Alexander Murray, Efq; Sollicitor- General for Scotland.

Alexander M'Dougal, Efq; Deputy-remembrancer of the Ex-
chequer.

^xYui SUBSCRIBERS^.

Donald INl'Leod, Efq; advocate.

William M'Kenzie, Efq; advocate.

John M'Kenzle of Delvin, Efq;

William Mercer of Aldie, Efq; 2 Books.

Francis Macnab of Macnab, Efq;

John Mill of Old Montrofe, Efq; 2 Books,.

James Milliken of Milliken, Efq;

James Moray of Abercairny, Efq;

William Murray of Polmaife, Efq;

Ronald M'Donald of Clanronald, Efq; 2 Books.

Donald Macdonell of Glengary, Efq;

William Maedowall of Caftlcfemple, Efq;

Donald Macneil of Collancy, Efq;

Alexander Murray of Pliiliphaugh, Efq;

William MoncriefF of Tippermolloch, Elq;

James Murray of Broughton, Efq;

Charles Macdonald of Largie, Efq;

George Monro of Poyntzfield, Efq;

John Macdouall of Logan, Efq;

Robert Mackenzie of Fairburn, Efq;

John MacCulloch of Barholm, Efq; 2 Books.

William Miller of Cralgentinny, Efq; feed-mcrcliant in Edin-
burgh.

Duncan Macniillan, Efq;

Robert Murray, Efq;

Kenneth Mackenzie, Efq;

Jolm M'Gowan, Efq; writer in Edinburgh.

Dr James Mounfey.

Dr John IMacfarlanc,

Dr William Milkr phylician, London.

SUBSCRIBERS. xxxix

Mr Duncan Macdonnld writer in Edinburgh,

Ivir John Murray bookfeller, Fleet-flreet, London,

Mr Robert Macnair merchant in Glafgow.

Mr Murdoch M'Lean merchant in Edinburgh,

Mr George Miller brewer.

Mr George Mandcrfon nurferyman at Dumfries.

N
Right Hon, the Earl of Northeik.
Right Hon. Lord Napier.

Sir James Nafmyth of I'ofTo, Baronet, 2 Books.
Sir John Nifbet of Dean, Baronet.
Sir William Nairn of Dunfmnan, Baronet, 2 Books.
William Nelthoi'pe, Efq; one of the Commiflioners of the

Cufloms.
William Nifbet of Dirleton, Efq;
William Nifbet jMwior, of Dirleton, Efq;
JVIr John Neal merchant in Edinburgh.

O

Right Hon. Lord Oliphant,
Hon. Henry Oliphant, Efq;

Lieutenant-General Sir James-Adolphus Oughton, Baronet.
Robert Oliphant of Rofhe, Efq; Poflmafler-General of Scot-
land.
Robert Ord, Efq;

James-Townfend Ofwald of Dunnekier, Efq;
Archibald Ogilvy of Inchmartin, Efq;
John Orr of Barrowfield, Efq;
Alexander Orme, Efq; one of the clei-ks to the fignet.

xl SUBSCRIBERS.

P

Right Hon. the Earl of Panmurc.

Sir John Paterfon of Eccles, Baronet.

Colonel Peter Prefton.

William Pulteney, Efq;

Thomas Pennant of Downing, Efq;

John Pringle of Crichton, Efq;

John Patoun, Efq; of Inverelk.

Boyd Porterfield of Porterfield, Efq;

John Pringle, Efq; one of the clerks to the fignet.

His Grace the Duke of Queenfberry and Dover, 4 Books.

R

Rig^t Hon. Lord Reay.
Right Hon. Lord Rvithven.
Sir Alexander Ramfay of Balmain.
Major John Rofs, 31ft regiment.
David Rae, Efq; advocate.
Archibald Roberton of Bedley, Efq;
John Pvofs of Balnagowan, Efq;
David Rofs of Inverhaflie, Efq;
John Rxitherfurd of Edzertoun, Efq;
Alexander Robertfon of Straloch, Efq;
Allan Ramfay of Kinkcll, Efq;
James Rocheid of Inverlieth, Efq;
James Riddell of Ardnamnrchan, Efq;
Thomas Rigg of Morton, Efq;
John Renton of Lamerton, Efq;

SUBSCRIBERS. xli

Alexander Rofs, Efq;

Walter Rofs, Efq; one of the clerks to the fignet.

David Reid, Efq; Infpedor-general of out-ports, 2 Books.

Dr James Ruflell, profeflbr of Natm-al Philofophy in the univer-

fity of Edinburgh.
Dr John Roebuck.

Dr Robert Ramfay phyfician in Edinburgh.
Mr Robert Robinfon architect.
Mr Charles Renton land-furveyor.

Mr John Richmond and Company, nurfei7men, Edinburgh.
Mr Charles Rofs at Greenlaw, nurferyman.
Mr George Roy gardener, z Books.

Right Hon. Lord Vifcount Stormont.

Right Hon. Lord Somerville.

Hon. Keith Stuart, Efq;

Sir John Sinclair of Murkle, Baronet.

Sir John Stuart of Allanbank, Baronet.

Major-General John Scott.

Colonel Pvobert Skene, Adjutant-General of his Majefty's forces

in Scotland.
Captain Archibald Swinton.
John Swinton of Swinton, Efq; advocate.
James Stuart-Fleming, Efq; advocate.
Robert Scott of Dunnenald, Efq;
Hugh Seton of Touch, Efq;
Charles Scott of Bavclaw, Efq;
Sharp of Holden, Efq;

xlii SUBSCRIBERS.

. Stewart of Shambclly, Efq;

John Spottilwood of Spottlfwood, Efq;

James Sutherland-Murray of Clyne, Efq;

James St Clair of Dy fart, Efq;

Alexander Stuart of Blantyre, Efq;

William St Clair of RoOin, Efq;

David Scott of Scotftarvet, Efq;

David Smyth of Methven, Efq;-

Alexander Sherriff of Craigleith, Efq;

James Stewart, Efq; merchant in Edinburgh.

James Small, Efq;

Gideon Schaw, Efq;

Andrew Stevenfon, Efq;

John Shaw-Stewart, Efq;

Andrew St Clair, Efq;

Alexander Scrymgeour, Efq;

Jacob Sandilands, Efq;

John Spottifwood, Efq; London.

Mr William Sutherland v/riter in Edinburgh..

Mr William Shiells feedfman at Dalkeith,

T
Mofl Hon. the Marquis of Twecddale.
Captain Alexander Turnbull, 3 2d regiment.
Tohn Thomfon, Efq; Secretary to the Board of Excife.
. Alexander Tclfcr of Kimerghain, Efq;
[ofeph Tudor, Efq;
Richard Thornton, Efq;
Mr Archibald Telfer.

Air Tohn Ycirch.

SUBSCRIBERS, xliii

U

Alexander Udny, Efq; one of the Commiffioners of Excife.

W

Hon. James Wemyfs of Wemyfs, Efq;
Hon. Baron George Winn.
Sir John Whitefoord, Baronet.
'Sir Thomas Wallace of Craigie, Baronet.
Sir John Wedderbm-n, Baronet.
Colonel Sir John Warrender, Baronet, i Books.
John Weft, Efq; one of the Commiffioners of the Cuftoms.
-Thomas Wharton, Efq; one of the Commiffioners of Excife.
WilHam Wallace, Efq; advocate.
Jofeph Williamfon, Efq; advocate.
William Wilfon of Houdon, Efq;
Andrev? Wanchope of Niddrie, Efq;
John Wavichope of Edmonfton, Efq;
James Watfon of Saughton, Efq;
Robert Waddell, Efq;
William Wood, Efq;
George Warrender, Efq;
Mr Thomas Whyte of Primrofe-Barns.
Mr William Whyte bookfeller in Kirkcaldy, 1 2 Books.
Mr Robert Whyte feedfman.

MefT. Williamfon and Company, nurferymen, London.
Mr William Wright nm-feryman at Leith.

Dr Thomas Young phyfician in Edinburgh,
f 2

^^^'^^^^^^i^^^^^^^^^^Hf^i'-^^^^i^if^H^'^^^^^'^^'^^

TREATISE

O N

P O R E S T . T R E E S.

•^^^^^^^^^^^^^•i^^^r^^^^^^^-i^^^^^^Jii^^^^^^^^.>^

[ xlvii ]

CONTENTS.

DECIDUOUS TREES, -with their different Species.

Chap. Page.

I. The Elm Tree, - - - i

II. The Beech Tree, - - - 21

III. The Platamis, or Plane Tree, - - 25

IV. The Maple Tree, - - - 29
V. The Oak Tree, - - - 34

VI. The Ash Tree, - - - 45

VII. The Lime Tree, - - - 51

VIII. The Hornbeam Tree, - - 56

IX. The Walnut Tree, - - 59

X. The Chesnut Tree, - - 66

XI. The Horse-Chesnut Tree, - - 73

XII. The Larix, cr Larch Tree, - - 76

XIII. r/7^ Virginian Tulip Tree, - - 84

XIV. The Acacia Tree, - - 89
XV. The Wild Cherry TKV.-E.,inY.n^^nd commonly cal-
led the Black Cherry, in Scotland the Geen Tree. 92
— This chapter alfo contains the Bird Cherry,

in Scotland called the Hagberry, - 96

XVI. The Poplar Tree, - - 97

XVII. The Lote, or Nettle Tr f.e, - - 104

XVIII. The Laburnum, or Bean-Tref.oi l, - 108

XIX. 77^^ Alder Tree, - - iii

XX. 77;^ Birch Tree, - - 112

XXI. r/?;<? Service Tree, - - 115

XXII. 77^ Judas Tree, - - iiS

XXIII. The Elder Tree, - - - i .14

XXIV. The Tacamaiiac.a Tree, - - 126

Klviii CONTENTS.

EVERGREENS, ifUh their cl'iprent :., -cles.

Chap. Page.

XXV. Tbe Pine Tree, - - 1^.8

XXVI. The Fir Tree, - - - i -. i
XXVII. Tbe Cedar Tree,

XXVIII. The Cypress Tree, - - .,

XXIX. The Arbor Vitas, or Tree of Life, - i ■■•4

XXX. The Ilex, or Evergreen Oak Tree, : ' -]

XXXI. r/j.^ Cork Tree, - - 1^4

XXXII. The Holly Tree, - - 1-8

XXXIII. The Yew Tree, - - 188

XXXIV. Tbe Laurel, or Cherry Bay Tree, - 102
XXXV. Tbe Bay Tree, - - n^y

XXXVI. The Ai-butus, or Strawberry Tree, - 202

XXXVII. Thorns, — their culture from the feed, till they

arrhuc to the fize of becoming fencible Hedges
at t r at f planting,

XXXVIII. On the propagation of Trees by Layers,
XXXIX. On Graftjng and Inoculation, - 235

XL. On Forests or Woods, and the mof fpeedy

manner of rearing them,
XLI. On viaking Trees fit for removal, that have
food uncultivated, and too thick, in Nurferies
or Woods ^ ~ - - 256

207
2.^2

243

A

TREATISE

o N

FOREST-TREES,

C H A P T E R I.

The elm TREK.

The Species are :

1. The fmall-leav'd or true English Elm;

2. The English Elm with large rough leaves ;.

3. The French Elm ;

4. The rough-bark'd Dutch Elm ;

5. The Cornish Elm;

6. The Red Elm from Canada;

7. The Scots Elm in England, call'd the Witch Elm ;

8. The English Elm with ftrip'd leaves.

THE five forts firft mentioned are propagated by layers or
fuckers, the former of which is by nluch the better me-
thod, as the trees, fo raifed, will, in their firfl flages, advance
more in growth, and make handfomer plants than thefe taken
from the roots of old trees ; neither will they fo foon, or in fo
great a number, produce fuckers, which retards the growth
of the tree. I Ihall therefore firft defcribe the manner of railing

2

TREATISE ON

thofe kinds in that way, and proceed to the beft methods of
their culture, from the mother, till they arrive to the height o£.
thirty feet or upwards.

Having prepared a fpot of ground, neither too light and
thin, nor too moift and heavy, but freih and. mellow, that has
been well trenched the preceding year, and all root-weeds and
ftones carefully pick'd out of it, and that has been a year or two
employed in leafy Mtchen-garden crops, dig it well, and level it in
the beginning of Oaober : Then, if you have them not yourfelf,
procure from a nurferyman your ftools, or mother-plants ; let
thefe, if you can get fuch, be trees that have been cut over clofe
by the ground two years preceding, hut that have not yet been
layed ; cut all their branches over again, two or three inches a-
bove the lall cutting, from, which they will produce a great
number of clean young Ihoots the following fummer ; plant
thefe at about eight feet afunder in the Quincunx order, which
will fill the ground more equally than by planting them in
fquares; then give them a gentle watering, to fettle the earth a-
bovxt their roots.

If you cannot procure fuch as have been cut over with a view
to making mother-plants of them, chufe from the nurfery found
vigorous trees, of about fix orfeven years growth ; and if they
have been two or three times tranfplanted, they will be fo much
the better,, as, by having abundance of roots, they will produce
plenty of ftrong foxmd branches : Cut them over llanting, eigh-
teen inches or two feet above ground ; then make a trench long
enough to receive them lying on their fide. Hoping fo as the
root may be covered fix or leven inches, and, three or four in-

If O REST-TREES. 3

'ches of the top appear above the furface ; place the wounded
part, which oviglit to be cut very clean and fmooth, downwards,
to prevent being injured by the winter rains ; plant them at the
fame diftances, watering therti as the former, keep them dili-
gently clear of weeds, frequently ftirring and loofening the earth
about them, fo as to receive the full benefit of the fummer rains
and dews. If the ground is of a good quality, and the feafon
favourable, many of them will he fit to lay the following Od;o-
ber ; and fuch flioots as are too weak fdr laying then, being a-
gain cut over, will produce enough to furnifli the ground with
a full crop of layers the fucceedin^ autumn.

As early in Odober as the weather will permit, begin laying
your Elms, giving them a gentle watering, which, in dry weather,
lliould be frequently repeated during the f\immer months ; the
expence whereof will be well repaid by the nvtmber of roots and
ftrength of your layers. The different methods of perform-
ing this operation on all the trees here treated of, will be
defcribed in a chapter by itfelf, to avoid repetitions.

The following Odlober, if the branches have been fkilfully
laid, and the ground managed as direded, mofl of the layers
will be fufSciently rooted ; when, having prepared a fpot of
good mellow groiind, as for the ftools, carefully uncover the
plants, whofe fibres are at this time extremely tender ; raife them
gently up with the fpade, and with a fliarp knife cut them off at
the extremity of their roots, and fuch of them as have not pufli-
ed out fibres at the joint where they were laid, but are what the
gardeners call club-rooted, fhould be thrown away, as thefe v/ill
never make good plants, or refill the winds : Having feparated
A 2

4 TREATISE- OK

them from their mothers, trim away only the fmall hairy fibres
that are bruifed and broken, which are apt to mould, and en-
danger the tree ; but be very fparing of what is frelh and fovmd,
fliortening them and the principal roots inoderately, tho' many
falhionable gardeners make a little too free in this point, by cut-
ting moft of them away, endeavouring to fliow their addrefs, by
making trees grow without them ; keep them as little time as
pofTible out of the ground ; cut them over about a foot in height,
and plant them in lines three feet afunder, and eighteen inches
difbance in the line : Here let them remain two feafons, when
they fliould again be cut over, in the beginning of March^ within
two or three inches of the furface : By this time die plants will,
be well rooted, and, the fucceeding fummer, in a good foil and
temperate feafon, they will produce ftraight clean fhoots, four
and five feet high. In March following, prune away all ftrong
lateral and ill-placed branches clofe to the flem, but leave feve-
ral of the fmaller Ihoots, more or lefs as the plants are thick or
flender bodied, to detain the fap, and augment the trunk of the
tree ; the not obferving which, is one great caufe of feeing fo
many trees growing, without proportion, to great heights, with
flender bodies and heavy tops, unable to fupport themlelves, but
bending -almoft to the ground with every guft of wind, from
which, of courfe, they never can arrive to magnitude or beauty.
Here thefe trees may remain another year, when, if they are in-
tended to be made fit for tranfplanting at large fizcs, they muft
be removed to another nurfery, and planted at greater diftances :
But before I proceed to that, I fliall direcfl their culture from
fuckers, and, of the Scots Elm from feed, till they are fit to be
treated in the fame manner as thofe, and when the fame ma-
nagement will anfwer all the kinds. It may here be necellary

FOREST-TREES. 5-

to obferve, after having cut over jour Elms, or indeed any o-
ther tree, that, as foon as the young flioots appear, you ihovild
rub off all but the moil promifmg one, which will m\ich advance
the growth of it.

Being provided with fuckers grub'd up from the roots of old
trees, in the fpring, when the fap begins to i-ife, which for them
is preferable to the autumn, cut off all the bruifed and broken
roots, and trim their tops to about fix or eight inches high ; lay
them in drills cut out with the fpadc, eighteen inches line from
line, and eight or nine inches in the line; give them a gentle
watering, and keep the ground clean and loofe about them : Ha-
ving flood here one year, cut tliem over by the groiind, and let
them remain another, w^hen they ought to be raifed and planted
in a feparate nurfery, at double the former dillances. Siich of
them as have made flrong fhoots, and thick in proportion to their
height, may be planted at full length ; but fuch as are dwarfifli
and ill-formed, or tall and flender, muft be fhortened again,
rnore or lefs as they have good or bad roots ; thofe with good
roots lefs reduced in their height than tlie others, which ought
to be an invariable rule in the pruning all forts of Foreft-Trees :
In this fituation, let them remain two, but not exceeding three-
years, managing them in all refpecls as the layers.

The Canada Elm having been lately imported to Britain, they
are not yet arrived to any magnitude Vv'ith us, but in their native
country they grow to a vaft fize. I have only cultivated them
for three years pad, during which time they have exceeded all
the different fpecies of Elms in growth confiderably, and there is
every probable appearance they will foon become itately trees in-

6 T R E A 1' I S E ON

tills climate. I have incrcafed them from layers with cafe, and
they root more abundantly that way than the Englifh Elm. I
have alfo grafted them on EngUfli, Scots, and Dutch flocks, fuc-
cefsfullv; and the moft vigorous flioots have been from the
Dutch, though thefe on the Englifla feem to have a more elegant
form : Their leaves are broader than thofe of the Scots or Dutch
Elm, but fmoother, and of a ^rLuch more lively green ; from
which circumftances, they feem to claim our encouragement.
Thefe trees produce plenty of feeds in Canada, from whence
they may eafily be procured; but from the length of the voyage,
and the delicacy of the feeds, they feldom arrive frefh in Britain :
Therefore, the readieft way to cultivate them here, is from layers,
or by grafting them; and fuch plants will perhaps be hardier
than thofe raifed from foreign feeds.

The Scots Elm may be propagated to the fame advantage as
the other forts, by layers, and will produce abundance of roots
with greater facility, and in courfer land, than the Englifli ; but
as they generally yield plenty of feeds annually, which are
eafily obtained, and which is mvich the cheapeft way of raiiing
large quantities of tliem, I fliall direift their culture in that

The feeds of this tree commonly ripen from the beginning
till the middle of June, as the feafon is more or lefs forward : It
is eafy to difcover their ripenefs by the huflc being full and firm,
inclining to a tawny brown colour. Thefe feeds mvifl: be atten-
tively look'd after, as they approach to maturity ; for when they
are fully ripe, a blafl of wind, or heavy rain, will drive them all
off the trees in a day's time, as I have often experienced ; and as

FOREST-TREES. 7

the feeds are very fmall, it will be dlfficvilt to gather any quantity
of them, and indeed impoffible if amongft grafs, or where there
is not a. clean furface; but having watched the proper time, and
feleded the fairefl and ftraightefl trees, the beft method of ga-
thering them, is to make a man mount the tree, fpreading a mat
or canvafs under it, when, gently fliaking the branches, the ripe
feeds will eafily part with them and drop down. By this pradicej
you will have nothing but the moft generous fully ripened feeds,
a circimiflance of no mean confideration in your future planta-
tions ; whereas, in the common way of fweeping the feeds from
the ground, there is always a great deal of chaff, with many weak -
unripened feeds...

The common pradice is to fow thefe feeds a few days after
gathering them, by which means a number of them will rife in
four or five weeks ; but thefe coming up at the hotted time of
the year, and not having fummer enovigh to make them ftrong
plants before the hard weather comes on, are commonly fpewed
out of the ground the fucceeding winter ; or if that fliould be
imcommonly mild, and they fhand it out, yet fuch w^ill be weak
ftunted plants, and hardly ever make free growing handfome
trees ; and though the bulk of the feeds will not appear till the
following fpring, yet, from the ground being hard and battered
with the winter rains, they will make poor fhoots, compared to
fuch as are fawn on. frelh well-prepared land in the fpring : It is
therefore better management, and you Vvrill fooner come to your
purpofe, to raife vigorous healthful plants of thefe, or any other
kinds, in a proper way, than ftruggle with the recovery of what
have been originally flarved and ftunted. For thefe reafons, I ihall
pay no regard to common rules, however prevailing, further ■

8 TREATISE on

tlian I have found them fuccefsful, but defcribe the methods of
culture experience and obfervation has taught me are beft, and
by wliich I have raifed great quantities of this valuable tree to a
furprifing fize in a few years.

As foon as the feeds are gathered, fpread them on a canvafs in
the open air, but not expofed to a warm fun, which would dry
them too fall, and extra<5l their vegetative juices ; turn them over
frequently, feparating the clufters, into which, from their moi-
fture, they are apt to gather and grow mufty ; let them be placed
imder cover in the night-time, to proted them from the rains and
dews, which mull be continued longer or fliorter as the weather
is temperate and clear, or damp and cloudy, but in general they
vv ill require ten or twelve days feafonable weather to make them
dry enough to keep : After this, they fliould be put in bags, but
not hard preffed in them, and carried to the feed-loft, where they
may remain live or fix weeks, by which time they will be tho-
roughly dry and firm, without having loft any of their virtue ;
and the feafon of vegetation being almoft over, they will be in
no danger of fpringing that year. From the feed-loft let them
be removed to any covered fliady place in the nurfery, and mix-
ed with one-third part fine fand to two-thirds of the feeds, co-
vering them three or four inches thick with more fand or fine
loofe fifted earth, to prevent being injured by the frofts ; and in
this fituation let them remain till February following.

About the i 2th of this month, or as foon after as the weather
will permit, prepare a fpot of loofe rich garden earth, made per-
fedly clean of root-weeds, and finely raked : Divide this land in
beds three and a half feet wide, with alleys eighteen inches :

FOREST-TREES. 9

Thimft off a little of the earth with the head of the rake, as is
praeT:ifed in fowing onions, and other fmall kitchen crops ; then
fow the feeds moderately thin, (thick fowing being an almoil
univerfal though capital error in this and mod kinds of tree-
leeds) ; clap the feeds with the back of the fpade gently into the
ground, which will give a fmooth level furface, and make it ea-
fy to cover thein of an equal thicknefs ; then draw on the earth
that has been thruft back, and throw a little more from the
alleys, till they are covered half an inch thick, but not more,
deep .covering being alio another general error.

By the beginning of April, the feeds will appear above ground ■
after which time, whea die weather is dry, and not fioity, they
ought to be refreihed with frequent but very gentle waterings,
eitlier in the evenings, or early in the mornings, and cai-ciuiiy
•kept clear of weeds, which otherways would dellroy many pLuxLs,
and much impede the growth of tlie remainder. .

If the feeds have been fown in a good well-prepared foil, and
the feafon has been fiivourable, they ought all to be railed the
following fpring ; but if the ground is poor, and of courfe the
plants fmall, they may {land another year; in which event, it
will be proper to draw the largefl from amongfl them, which
otherways, the fucceeding fummer, would prevent the fmall ores
from having air and moillure, and confequently rob the greatefc
part of their proper nourilhment.

The feparation of the larger fi'om the fmaller plants, in all.
kinds of nurfery, though not generally attended to, is of great
confeqiience, both in point of ufe and beauty, as, from this prac-
B..

10 T 11 E A T I S E ON

tlcc, the trees nearly keep pace -with one another in fize, but
vhich not obfei'ved, many are finothered or ftunted by being
overhung, to the great injury and deformity of the nuriery ; and
indeed this rule ought to be extended, not only to nurferies, but
inore particularly to fuch trees as are planted out where they are
fo remain.

These plants having been carefully raifed from the feminary
with, all their fibres, fliorten their top-roots, and commit them
to the nurfcry, the well-grown in Ox5tober, but the fmaller not
till February, left the winter's froft fpew them out of the
ground : Plant the largeft in rows two and a half feet afunder,
a.nd a. foot diilance in the row, where they may remain two
Ycars ; but let the fmaller be laid in beds one foot row from row,
and about fix inches in the row, to ftand one year only, when
they may be treated as the larger feedlings, and like them ftand
two years longer.

The Engliili Elm with ftrip'd leaves, maybe grafted on any
of the Elms, though on the plain Englifli they make the hand-
fomeft plants ; but in order to preferve their original variegation,
thev ought to be planted on a poor light foil, as in deep rich
ground they lofe much of that beauty, imd fometimes turn quite
plain, though the moft effeiflual m^ethod I have ever found for
preferving the colours of this and many other ftrip'd plants, is
to propagate them from layers of trees that are richeft in the va-
riegation, and which will continvie fo much better than fuch as
have been grafted on plain ftocks.

Besides the common methods of raifmg Elms from layers,
fuckers and feeds, there are many propagatal, by grafting and

FOREST-TREES. ir

kioculating the Engllfla kind on Scots flocks. For certain foils and
fituations, this is a very great improvement ; but where that is
not judicioufly confidered, and the genius of the land where they
are planted out for good confulted, it may have an oppofite ef-
fe(5l : I fliall therefore (having tried many experiments on this
favourite tree) be particular in mentioning the advantages, or
otherways, of propagating the EnglifhElm by grafting, adapting
the (locks on which they are grafted to the foils where they
ought to be planted, and the improvements in profit and beau-
ty that may be obtained from this pra(5lice.

Where the foil is dry, found, and generous, and the climate
good, there is no fpecies of the Elm yet familiar to us, equal in
beauty to the true fmall-leav'd,Englilli, from layers of its own
kind ; nor has ic any fault, but Leing fliy to root (when unfkil-
fully laid), and in ftormy fituations reclining from the wind ; but,
by the prefent fyilem of cultivation, that defecfl will be intirely
cured, and it will root as abundantly as the Scots Elm, or any
other tree, and refill the mofl impetuous winds equally well.

Next to the true Englifli, I eft e em the Cornifli Elm as the
finefl tree of the kind, both for loftinefs of growth, elegance of
form, and the lively chearful verdure of its leaves.

The Englifli Elm grafted on the Scots makes both a beautifu'
and valuable tree, yet it is fcill inferior in regularity of form, and
loftinefs of flature, to thofe raifed from their own mother ; and
as every tree muft ia Ibnie meafure partake of the ilock on which
it is grafted, fo this has a near refemblancc ot^ the Scots Elm in
its bark even when young, and w'lcn old, like tliem, grows mcrc.
B 2.

iz TREATISE ow

loofe, fpreading, and lefs erech than the true Engliih, though,
when young, they are extremely beautiful.

Where the land is tolerably deep, though coarfe, and inclined
to clay or till, thofe on Scots flocks will ilicceed better than the
Engliih on its own bottom; but where the aground is thin and
hungry, it is in vain to plant them.

On moift, heavy, coarfe, and even wet lands, that have any
competent degree of flrength, plant the rough Dutch Elm ; and
in fuch fituations, I have even raifed goodly tliriving plantations
of the Englifli, grafted on flocks of them, which makes a fairer
tree than thofe on the Scots flock, and has a nearer refemblance
of the true Engliih, as the Dutch Elm itfelf has. At the fame
time, though this plant moll generally affe(5ls a deep foil, I have
feen many llatcly thriving trees of them on burning fand and
gravel.

The French Elm affccls a deep rich moifl earth, where they
will make amazing progrcfs, and become beautiful trees. In
fuch a fituation, if the Engliih Elm is chofen, graft them on
ilocks of the French, which makes the fineft plants of the whole
tribe, the Englifli on its own bottom only excepted, and which
has no competitor, when fulted to its proper foil.

The French Elm may alfo be much improved, by grafting it
on the Englifli, when required to be planted on fuch foil as is
directed for that plant.

Here it may be neceffary to obfervc a praiflice extremely
common amongfl ignorant nxirfcrymcn, which is, cutting their

POREST-TREES. 15

Englifli Elm graft? from thofe on Scots (locks, and which indeed
have the faired and plumpefl buds, (a plain indication from
whence they immediately proceed, tlie bu3s of the Scots being
larger and more turgid than thofe of -the Englifh) but theft;
gentlemen either do not regard the quality of the plants they
fell, fo they are paid for them, or are ignorant, that, by repeat-
ing this pradice, the Englifli Elm may be brought fo far to dege-
nerate, as, in many graftings this way, to differ very little from
the Scots ; therefore, whatever kind the flocks are on which you
graft the Englilli, let the grafts be taken from ^-ecs of the true
kind, raifed by layers of their own mother. This, however
Kttle at4:ended to, nature plainly dictates.

It may alfo be proper to notice here, that all Elms planted in
gardens, and by the fides of walks, lawns, or avenues, ought to
be on Scots ilocks, as thefe produce no fuckers, which the Eng-
lifli, French, and Dutch, do in fuch quantities, as to make ic
very troublefome and expenfive keeping fuch places clear of them,
and in good order.

I AM well aware that the ignorant part of my profeffion (but
who I hope are not the majority) will fay, here is a great deal of
time, land, and labour loft, in cutting over trees before ready
to fell and make money of, or at any rate which might have re-
mained as they were till larger and higher priced. According to
common practice, where ignorance and dilhonefly go hand in
hand, it will be difficult to convince fuch men of their real inte-
refl, which they perhaps believe confifts in getting money by
whatever means as fall as they can. Such will not eafily relln-
quifla their former iil-habits, or reilecl, that a perfon of taflc and

14 TREATISE on

knowledge in gardening will reward their patience and Jndufhry,
by readily paying a higher price for a handfome vigorous plant,
than for an unlhapely Hunted one : To fuch therefore I do not
mean to addrefs niyfelf, but thofc of more ingenuous and libe-
ral views. I will boldly affirm, that though a. little more land
and labour is beftowed, there is in the end no time loft, but much
time faved by this operation, as, in four or five years, thefe cut
over will be confiderably larger than the others, with this fur-
ther defirable circumftance, that, in place of being ragged, un-
fightly, and ill-rooted, they will be ftraight and clean-fkin'd, witli.
a much greater abundance of roots. In fliort, cutting over eft:a-
bliflies the plants, by diverting the fap to the roots, frees thena
from the injury and concuffions of the winds, and makes theiru.
produce handfome and generous flioots, infinitely preferable to .
fuch as are abandoned to nature and accident without this difci-
pline; and when feafonably praclifed, nothing will fo much ac--
cclei'ute the fuccefs of plantations for many years. .

Thus having dircded the beft methods of treating thefe plants
in their early ftages, and which indeed is all the culture com-
monly beftowed on them, for whatever purpofes they are defign-
cd, or at whatever fizes to be removed, I proceed to their manage-
ment for a fucceffion of years, with a view to their being u-anl-
planted when large trees, and which, by obferving the rules
here laid down^ they may be, with the moft certain fuccefs, to
any fize, capable of being raifed and tranfported..

These ti'ees, if planted in a good foil, having now- arrived to
the height of fix or fovea feet, tlic fame pradice will anfwer foi;
all the forts of Ehiis.

FGREST-TREES. 15

Your ground being prepared by a good digging, which on
'this occalion I prefer to trenching, (as deep loofe foil would in-
vite the roots downward, whereas the prefcnt fyflem requires
their fpreading as much as pofTible near the furface), raife
your plants carefully, with all their roots and herby fibres ; re-
duce the downright roots confiderably, but only fmooth with a
a fliarp knife the extremities of the fpreading ones, and what-
ever earth adlieres to the fibres, if the diflance is fmall to their
new quarters, fliould be preferved, cutting away only fome of the
fmalleft draggling hairy parts ; for roots are the mouths that
fuck in the nourifliment, and transfufe it to all the parts of the
tree. The roots thus prepared, prune away, clofe to the body,
all ill-placed ftraggling branches, leaving only a few of blie fmall-
eft, to detain (as has been faid) the fap, and fwell the trunk of
the tree : Plant them in lines four feet afunder, and eighteen
inches in the line ; let them be watered, to fettle the earth about
their roots, and in this fituation they ovight to remain two years
only.

From this nurfery remove them to another, drcffing their roots
and bodies as at lafl removal ; and plant them in lines five feet
aiunder, and two feet in the line, where they may remain three
years.

Let them be again removed, and planted in lines eight feet
afunder, and fix feet in the line, in which fituation continue
them four years ; let thefe have a plentiful watering, and ob-
ferve that the waterings be increafed in proportion to the age
and fize of the trees.

i6 TREATISE on-

The ground between the lines, from firfl to laft, ought to Be
\vell dug every fpring and autumn, which will much increafc
the number, and promote the fpreading of the roots, and of
courfe the growth of the plants.

The trees being now twelve years old, and in good land, will
be from twenty to twenty-four feet high, and may either be
planted out where they are, to remain for good, or again remo-
ved to the fields, or any fpot of good land mofh convenient, and.
planted at leafl ten feet afunder, to be ready for whatever defign
may be in view, or afterwards occur ; whence, any time from
ihi-ee to feven or eight years, they may not only be removed with
undoubted fuccefs, but with fuch abundance of earth adhering
to them, and fuch (Irength and proportion of body, as to defy
the rudefl affaiilts of the winds, even at firft planting, without
Hacking or any other fupport; which, though an almoil; iinivcr-
i'al pradlice, is, notwithftanding, the refvilt of ignorance, and is
only neceffary to fupport the defe<5t of good culture, by proping
trees that have been injudicloufly. managed, as none of the
ftraight growing pyramidal trees (the deciduous kinds more par-
ticvilarly) have the lealt want of that aid, if the direiftions here
given are attended to.

Every gardener, of the fmallefl obfervation, muft be fenfible,
that the rotting of the wounded parts of old trees is the molt
general caufe of their death ; but from this practice no violence
is committed, no amputation made, but on the young and ten-
der roots and branches, which immediately heal ; from whence
nature points out, that this proccfs may be continued (parti-
cidarly with the Elm) while it continues frelh and vigorous,
without retarding its grov/th in axi) material degree.

F D R E S T - T R E E S. 17

. That I have been very liberal, if not extravagant, in ground,
hj the diftances allowed die plants, and that i'cw nurfcrymea
liave Inch an eritcnt of it as to proceed deeply in this plan, is a
reflection I am fatisfied will be made by numbers ; though,
that I have not exceeded a proper bounds, long experience hai
convinced me, and will others who make tlie experiment as
fairly as I have done : But if my affertion fliould not be thought
•fufEcient without another reafon, I lliall give one that I hope
will convince all, and that, by makmg proper ufe of the vacancies,
the prefent fyftem may turn out even frugal. The trees,
till they are lix or feven feet high, are allovvxd no greater diftance
than every honeft and ingenious nurferyman will admit to be a
propel- medium ; after which, from the increaied dilfances,
the plants being annually pruned as they ought, the ground may
be crop'd with Turnips, Onions, Leek, Carrot, Beans, Cabbage,
Collyflower, and a variety of other garden herbs, without the fmall-
efh injury to the trees, or the herbs receiving any injury from
them; particularly the early crops, from which I have frequent-
ly had profitable returns : Early turnips particularly, and
other tender roots and greens, in fevere fprings, when they have
been totally cut off in the open quarters of the garden, between
the lines of trees, from the ilielter they afford, I have often found
fucceedj from which circumftance it is demonftrable, that
trees planted at confiderable diftances, and their fuperfluous
branches regularly pruned off, may be cultivated at a moderate
expence. With refpecfl to nurferymen who have fmall portioni;
of land, by adhering to the pradice here directed, they may in-
large their bounds at a fmall expencc, as the annual reuirns
from the kitchen crops amongft the trees, if well cultivated, will
go far to pay both the ground rent and labour.
C

i8 TREATISE on

If the land is thin and hungry, or a cold tilly clay, on which
you intend to plant the Englilh Elm, the common method of
making pits for-them, is loll time and money. In fuch Toils the*
Dutch only v/ill fucceed, where it is amazing with how many
difficulties it will ftruggle, and loon become a large tree. But
in thefe imfriendly fituations, the Englilh muil be courted
(as well it deferves) to difplay its beauty..

To effedl this, I know but one certain method, which is, to
plant on the furface, or as miich above it as you can afford foil,
and raife mounds of good earth, fufficient to cover the roots and
eflablifli the tree ; which, being thus fed, till it acquire its for-
mer ftrcngth and hardinefs, will afterwards put up with coarfer
fare. Befides, the trees thus propagated, will not incline to run
downwards, as thofe planted young ever do, but will fpread
their roots near the furface, within the influences of the fun
and rains, and pick up all the good nourifliment the place af-
fords. This elevation of the trees, in parks, clumps, or lawns^.
has likcwife a very agreeable effect.

Tiio' I have mentioned particular waterings, it may not be a-
mifs, in general, to obferve, that all large trees mull be watered
at tranfplanting : If in Odlober, once gently will do till Ipring ;
from which time, it lliouldbe continued till Augull every montli,
at lead in dry weather, or rather when it does, not rain plenti-
fully ; . but thofe planted in the fpring, will require both more
frequent and abundant waterings than the former. I would not
however have it underftood, that the direcflions given for large
proportions of water to thofe old trees, fhould be pradlifed on the
younger ; to them it iliould be given frequently indeed, but very

5^ O R E S T - T R E E S. 19

gently, as over-watering mofl kinds of young trees, is generally

more dcftrudive, than giving them none at all : Let it alfo be
' an cftablilhed principle, that, from having begun to v.-ater feed-

.lings, or other fmall and delicate plants, you regularly continue
' it as the weather requires, otherwifc you'll do more harm than

good.

I SHALL fay no more on the culture of this noble, beautiful,
and ufeful tree, than that it well deferves ovu' utnioft care and at-
tention to bring it to perfection, for which it will amply repay us,
both in pleafure and profit ; therefore, I again recommend, that,
at all the fundry removals, but particularly the latter, the utmoft
care be taken to preferve as much of the old earth as poflible to
the roots, which will much accelerate their pulhing ovit frefli
ones immediately ; for this earth being already applied, and fit-
ted to the mouths of the fibres, if divefted of it, it will require
fome time to bring them in appetite again to a new mould, to
repair their lofs, furnifl-i their flock, and proceed in their wont-
ed oeconomy without danger and interruption.

I HAVE often been furprifed, that fome authors of deferved re-
putation, mention the French and Dutch Elm as trees of neither
ufe nor beauty ; and I can account for it in no other way, than
their having miftaken fome other fpecies of thefe trees for the
true French and Dutch Elm. Having made thefe obfervations
early in life, the Elm being ever a favourite tree with me, I was
determined to be fatisfied in this point, and the mofl likely way
to be fo, I thought, was to have them from France and Holland.
This I did, and brought the French Elm from Paris, and the
Dutch from Rotterdam, which were the mother-plants of all
G 2-

20

TREATISE

I have ever fince raifed of thefe kinds. The French Ehn, planted
in fuch foil as ^as been here direded for it, I think a beautiful
tree ; it grows faft, ai^d the wood, though not quite fo hard as
that of the Englifii and Scots, is yet a valuable timber, and not
much inferior to them. The Dutch Elm, tho' inferior in beauty
and elegance of form to that, i§, notwith (landing, a very va-
luable tree, and, in this climate, and much of the foil of Scot-
land, ought to be highly cherifhed, and become a common plant
r.mongft us, as it will fucceed in wet obllinate clay, where no tree
I know of equal ufe, and few but aquaticks, will grow freely,
but in fuch places it will foon become a {lately tree; and though
the wood is not equal to the other mentioned kinds, it is flill:
a ufeful wood, and is often indifcriminately fold to tlie carpenter
with them, from tlieir near referablance.

In Scotland, the dealers in, and manufadlurers of timber, are
partial, or ignorant with regard to the Scots Elm, believing it
better wood than the Englilh : But this, to my experience, is by
no means the cafe ; for having cut down many of thefe trees, I
have frequently weighed a cubic foot of the one and the other,
cut at the fame time, and always found the Englilli the cloflefl
and mod ponderous.

I HAVE fold Ejiglifii Elms of my own raiilng, at twenty-four
rears growtli, for a guinea the tree, and thefe not pick'd from
quantities, but a vrhole line of them, above fixty in number:
They were generally about eighteen inches diameter, a foot above
ground, and forty feet high.

FOREST-TREES. m

Chapter li.
The beech TREE.

The Species ere:

1. The common Beech.

2. The yellow-ftrip'd Beech.

3. The \^dlite-{lrip'd Beech^

TH E common method of raifing thefe plants, is,fowing their
feeds in beds, very thick, early in the fpring, and letting
them fland two years ; or, by drawing a part of them the firft
and fecond year, leaving the remainder till three years old : But
this, however general, is a very bad praftice, as the plants tlms
drawn have mod of their tender fibres torn away, (-an injury
they will not foon recover) ; and what remains, will be carrot-
rooted, and fufier much, by tlie neceflity of fliortening thefe
roots (then hard and woody) before tranfplanting them. I fhall
therefore leave the beaten path, and diret^ tlie pradice I have
found moft fuccefsfiil in the culture of this tree, and bringing it
foonell to perfetfliou.

Being provided in rnafl from the ftraighteil and frcHicft tree?,
»8 foon in autun^m as the huiks are quite dry, mix them with
land, and lay them under an old frame, or other covering, ta

^a TREATISE o "n

protea them from froft and wet. This will prepare the feeds
for vegetation, and difappoint the mice, w^ho generally have a
large lliare of them v/hen early fown.

In the beginning of March, fow them thin in fliallow drills,
about eighteen inches afunder ; and if the feafon is dry, and
water at no great diftance, give them frequent but moderate wa-
terings, from their beginning to appear above ground, till the
middle of Auguft, which will much forward the growjJi of the
plants.

In March, next feafon, with a fpade made very fiiarp for the
p\irpofe, undermine the roots as they ftand in the drills, and cut
them over between four and five inches under ground.

The following autumn, or fpring, you may either raife the
whole, or give them another cutting below ground, when gently
raifmg fuch as are too thick, leave the remainder, at proper di-
flances, to ftand another feafon. This manner of cutting the
roots dexteroully, has, in a great meafore, the fame effea as tranf-
planting.

Those you have raifed, after fmoothing the bruifed and bro-
ken roots, and cut away fome of the fmall hairy fibres, muft be
planted in lines two feet afunder, and nine or ten inches in the
line ; and if the foil is good, and the plants have grown vigo-
roufly, they fliould remain here only two years, but in poor land
they may continue three.

Those left in the drills where fown, are, next autumn, or
fpring, to be treated as thefe.

FaREST-TREES. 23

I MUST here obfervc a general error in the management of
of the Beech Tree at this age, which is, trimming off all their fider-
branches, and planting only the bare flem. This is doing the
greatefl violence to thefe plants, and vvhat, if ever, they will
not for feveral years get the better of, as no tree I know admits
lefs of being pruned at tranfplanting, particularly when young,
they conflantly turning hide-bound and ftunted when that is fe-
verely done ; therefore, nothing but very crofs ill-placed branches
(and even thefe fparingly) are to be touched at this time.

From this nurfery they muft be removed to another, and
planted in lines three and a half feet afunder, and eighteen
inches in the line, where they may remain, if in good foil, three,
but in poor land four years ; obferving always to prune mode-
rately at removal, and leave abundance of fmall branches to in-
creafe their bodies.

At this period, thefe plants will be fit for common and ex-
tenfive plantations ; but fuch as are defigned for removal, when
large trees, niuft undergo more difcipline.

These muil now be removed to another mirfery, and plant-
ed in lines five feet afunder, and two feet diflance in the line,
to remain in good ground three, but in poor four years.

From this remove them again, and plant thein eight feet a*
funder line from line, and fix feet in tlie line, to remain four
years.

F.ROM this nurfer\', if req\iired of a larger fize, remove them to
fields, planting them ten feet alunder every wa) , to be ready for

24 T K y^ A !■ 1 S E o N

your future dclign? ; and manage them hereafter as has been di-
rected fcr tlic Ehiii;.

As it has been ebfervcd, no deciduons Ci-ce agrees woi-fe thaii
this with pnniing at removal, to which may be added, wound-
ing them, by cutting olF hirgc branches, the bell method of
treating them, is to redvice them to their proper form by regular
prvmin^3 in the nurfery, particularly tiie feafon before they arc
tranfplanted ; by regularly obferving which, and _^keepiag them
in a proper degree of moillure, they will not be fenfibly retard-
ed in their future growth.

The forts with variegated leaves, are propagated by budding
them on the common kind.

Tins valuable tree, for lofty efpalier hedges to inclofe and
warm gard;nis, or for hedge-rows ibon to flielter barren fields,
has hardly an equal, and, by retaining its leaves all winter, af-
fords the fime protc6lion as an evergreen : It is ther-efore ama-
zing it fhould not be more vmiverfally planted in th^ cold, bleak,
and movmtainous parts of the kingdom, where it will grow in
the pooreft, ftoniell, fmdy, and gravelly grounds, and infmnate
its roots into places one would think impenetrable to any plant.
It is, befides, a tree of great beauty; and though the wood is
not fo valuable as that of Ibme others, it brings a price, and is
fit for many ufeful purpofes ; and for fuel, it is the beft of any
wood we have in this climate.

:F O R E S T « T Pv E E S. 25

Chapter III,
P L A T A N u s ; or, The P L A N E TREE.

The Species are .

1. The true Oriental Plane.

2. The Maple-leav'd or Spanish Plane.

3. The Weftern or Virginian Plane,

THE firft fort is ufually increafed from layers, though, where
the feeds can be procured, the plants raifed from them
make the finefl trees.

If they are propagated from layers, let them be laid down
the beginning of March, and in a year's time they will be fufli-
ciently rooted.

If from feeds, fow them in the autumn as foon as the feeds
are thoroughly dry, in a moifl rich foil, and fhady fituation. In
the winter, fcreen the beds with peafe-ftraw, rotten tanners bark,
two or three inches deep, or fome other light covering that can
eafily be removed in mild weather, to prevent the ground, for
want of air, from contradling a muftinefs, which might deftroy
the feeds. In the fpring following, before the feeds vegetate,
rake the beds gently over with a fhort-teeth'd rake, lifting a
little frefh rich mould on them, in proportion to what has been
raked off; and, in dry weather, during the fummer months, let
D

2^", TREATISE ON

them be regularly refreilaed with water. The following autumn,
the beds having been made quite dean, and loofened witli your
ftngei*, fo as not to diflurb the plants, put a- httle more good
mould about them witl^ your hands, after which they will re-
q\iire no further trouble, but keeping them clean, till they have-
had another feafon's grov/th ; by which time, let them be remo-
ved to the nurfery the fucceeding fpring.

The fecond fort, though by many ranked as a diHindl fpeeies, .
Mr Miller (and I believe juftly) thinks only a feminal variety of
the firft ; though the leaves are lefs divided than it, but more
than the weftern kind, this may eafily be increafed by layers.

The third fort grows freely from cuttings, which ought to
be planted the beginning of March, in Ihady borders of rich,
moifh earth, two feet line from line, and eight or ten inches
in the line; and if they are torn afunder at the joints, with
a knob or bur of the old woqd left, they v/ill grow, more readily,
and fooner become, flrong plants, than die others-, Thefe cut-
tmgs ought to be a, foot or fourteen inches long,, buried about
eight inches deep, and moderately watered till their llioots arc
two or three inches long,, v/here. they ihould remain two years.
The leaves of this kind aie broader, and lefs indented than the
other two forts ; it is likewife hardier, grows fafter, and to a
greater magnitude in this climate : So that in lajge plantations,
or in expofed fituations, I would advifc the greateft quantity of
them to be -planted.

The feedlings, layers, and cuttings, are now all to be treated'
In the fame manner, and planted out in the nurfery, in lines.

T 0 R E S T - T R E E S.

27

three feet and a half afunder, and eighteen inches dlftance in
the line : Let them get a plentiful watering at removal ; cut
away the extremities of their roots, with ail ill-placed over-
crowded branches, and let them continue here three years.

From this remove them to another nurfery, and plant therh
in lines fix feet afunder, and three feet in the line, where they
•may ftand fix or feven years without removal, if chofen, as
■this tree naturally produces abundance of roots with little cul-
ture. In this nurfery let the ground be annually dug, as for
other trees, and regularly pruned to the form you would have
them ; By obferving which, after you have planted them out
for good, your labour is properly over, as they will require
little or no pruning ever after, but advance in a regidar and
beautiful manner, vi-ithout the afTiflance of art.

Th e proper feafon of tranfplanting this tree is in the month
of March, when, and during the fummer months, if the feafon
is dry, they ought to be plentifully watered, particularly if the
foil is light and thin ; for though this is a very hardy plant,
yet, by removing them in autumn or winter, if the feafon fliould
prove very fevere, the extremities of the preceding fummer's
ihoot are fometimes blafted, which disfigure them a little the
fucceeding year.

The Platanus will grow in any tolerable foil, but they natu-
Tally delight in a moid deep ground ; therefore, when planted
on that of an oppofite quality, they {hould be plentifully v^ater-
ed for feveral fummers, which they will gratefully acknowledge,
-by the luxuriance of their growth.

2a TREATISE ON'

This beautiful and magaificent tree is faid to have been firfi:
introduced into England by the great Lord Chancellor Bacon, who
planted a large parcel of them at Verulam, near London, which
were very flouriihing there a few years ago. The great eileenx
the anticnt Perlians, Afiatics, Greeks, and Romans, (who brought
it from the Levant) had for it, is recorded by many hi-
Ilorians, as that of its falubrious emiflions having prevented
the plague at Ifpahan in Periia, which, .after a number of them
were planted,, had not come near their dwellings,, though
for many centuries it had made dreadful ravages in that great
city. The ftory of Xerxes halting his army, of feventeen hun-
dred thousand men for fome days, when on his march to in-
vade Greece, to admire the beauty and magnitude of one of thefe
venerable Planes, is well known; as is that of the Romans moift-
ening them with wine inftead of water. But a relation at large
of thefe, and many other fuch circumftances, would exceed the
bounds of, and be . unnecelTary in a work of this kind: It is
therefore fulEcient here to obferve, that the high elleem in which
chcfe ancient nations held this noble tree, appears to me a ftrong
argumentof their refined tafte and judgment; and I am heartily
forry to fay, that the negledl of its general culture in thofe king-
doms is a reflexion on ours. It affords the mofl glorious fhade
of any tree yet known ; and Pliny juflly obferves, there is none
which fo well defends us from the heat of the fun in fummcr,
or that admits it more kindly in -winter.

Th e Italians and Turks xifed formerly to build mofl' of their
fhips with this timber; and they had them of fo enormous a lize,
that whole canoes, and otlier- xeffcls for the feajhave been exca-
vated out of their prodigious trunks. It is hard, clofe, takes a
fine polilh, and is valuable for a variety of ufeful purpofes*

1? O- Pv E S T - T R E E S. 29

Chapter IV.
The maple TREE.

The Species are:

1. The greater Maple, in England falfely called the Sycamore.

and in Scotland the Plane Tree.

2. The Norway Maple, with Plane-tree leaves.

3. The Virginian Flowering Maple.

4. The American Maple, with Scarlet flowers,

5. The Virginian Aih-leav'd Maple.

6. The Common or Lefier Maple.

7. The Greater Maple, with flrip'd leaves.

8. The Noi-way Maple, with ilrip'd leaves.

*' I '*HE two firfl mentioned forts being the largefl growing
■* and hardiell: trees, are of coarfe moll proper for exteniive
plantations and expofed lituations ; for which reafon, I flaall firftf
diretfl the culttire of them till of conliderable iize, and then pi-o-
ceed to the other forts.

Their feeds ripen in antnmn, when they muft be gathered
in fair weather, and fpread in an airy place till thoroughly
dry, which may probably be in foxir or five weeks time. The
general pradife is, to fow them at this time ; but, from long
experience, I have foxmd it better, and have raifed more, and
finer plants, to mix the feeds with fand, or loofe fandy earth,
and keep them defended from fevere frort, or much moifture, till .

.S^ TREATISE on

I'ebruary, or the beginning of March, as the Aveathcr is more or
lefs favourable about this time : If not flrait'ncd for land, fow
them in drilly, as has -been dirccftcd for the Beech, but thinner;
if othcrways, let them be put in beds only eighteen inches broad,
with alleys the fame widcnefs, and cover them about three quar-
^ters of an inch thick.

The foliOv,'ing February or March, dig the alleys, and cut
their roots about five inches under ground, which, with a fharp
Ipade, may Avith eafe be performed ; and draw a coniiderable
quantity of the largeft plants where too thick, (which, if the
gi'ound is good, and has been properly drefled and kept clean,
mod of them M-ill be) ; let thefe be planted in good mellow foil,
in drills cut out with the fpade quite perpendicular, that the plants
may fland upright ; let the lines be eighteen inches afunder,
and the plants placed at eight or nine inches diftance in them ;
and here they fliould only remain one year, the ground being
tolerably good.

In the following October, when the plants will be in general
two feet high and upwards, let them be raifed, both the feed-
Jings, and thefe that were tranfplanted ; fhorten their top- roots,
cut oiT any crofs lateral branches, and remove them to ano-
ther nurfery, where they ought to be planted in rows, two and a
half feet afunder, and i 5 inches in the row, to continue two years.

From thence remove them again, at the fame feafon, and
plant them in rows five feet afunder, and two and a half feet in
the row, where they may continue four years.

These, in an ordinary foil, will now be from twelve to fifteen
feet high, and, if required of a larger fize for future purpofes,

FOREST-TREES.

32

may be removed to any convenient fituation, and planted eight
or ten feet afunder ; when, any time after two, and not exceeding
eight or ten years, they may be placed where dcfigned to remain :
And if, during that time, they have been Ikilfully piimed, and,
by that; brought to their proper form, carefidly raifed, and mo~
■derately watered at planting, which, in a dry fummer, may re-
quire being twa or three times repeated, your labour with, them
is at an end.

I HAVE diredled both fpring and autmnn planting fo^r this and
otlier trees ; the reafon for which is, that tho' the autumn is pre-
ferable for moil of the deciduous kinds, when ftrong and well-
rooted, yet thefe fame kinds, planted in the autumn, or winter,
when young, and before they have got fufficient roots, are apt to
be injured by froil, and fpewed out of the ground in fevere feafons. .

The cavife of fo frequently removing thefe trees when youno-,-.
is, that they naturally grow with downright carroty-roots, tho'
after undergoing the difcipline here preicribed, no plant roots
better,. cr is more patient of tranfplanting to a large lize>

Th ere is no tree, yet known in this climate, fo proper to be
planted near the fea, as the Great Maple, wher^ I have known it
grow luxui'iantly, after many other kinds have been tried in
Tain ; and, in a few years, their flielter will cherilh and bring
fqrward many hardy forts,, whicli no art V7ill. otherways efFeift, .

This tree, bowevei-^ otherways TiiiUauIe,- iliauld^not. be planted
near the houfe, cr by the fides of walks that are intended to be
finely kept ; for their leaves extide a fweet clamrny juice that
entices great quantidca of infccls, wko eat them full of hole?,..

35 T R" E A T I S E ON

and make them unfightly ; befides, the leaves falling early in
autumn, turn to mucilage, and putrify with the firfl moifture
of the feafon, fo as they contaminate and fpoll the walks, ren-
dci-ing them both difagreeablc, and expenlive to clean.

I HAVE not had the opportunity of planting the Norway Maple
.near the fea, but, in many other fituations, I have planted them
in concert with the common large fort, and found them equally
hardy, and of as free a growth : They are a much handfomer
tree, and their leaves have not the noxious qualities of the other.

The third, fourth, and fifth forts, are pretty trees, and proper
for the wlldernefs, and other ornamental plantations, but fliould
not be planted fmgly, or in cold expofed fituations in this cli-
mate, as they commonly fuffer much, both by the violence of
the weflerly, and coldnefs of the north and eafl winds. They
may be propagated from feeds as the former kinds, when thefe
can be procured ; but as they are not fo generally to be had in
this country, they fucceed i^eadily by layers, which, laid down
in autumn or fpring, will be fufficiently rooted in twelve months.

Having carefully railed your layers, and th'efl'ed them as
diredled for others, plant them out in a quarter of good well-
prepared ground, in rows, three feet afvmder, and a foot diflance
in the row ; let tliem be watered, to fettle the earth about their
roots, and i"emaln here two or three years, from whence remove
jthem to where they are meant to remain for good..

The common or lefler Maple, which produces abundance of
feeds with us, is eafily propagated from them, in the fame way
as the larger kind, and may be fown in beds three and a half

FOREST- TREES.

35

feet wide, according to the common praiflice, and, from the feed-
bed, at two years old, planted in the niirfery for two years more,
in Hnes, two feet alunder, when they will be fit for the pxirpofes
defigned. This is a tree of humble growth, feldom rifmg above
twenty -five or thirty feet high, and therefore not generally ufed
•in large plantations of timber trees, but is very common in the
hedge-rows over mofl parts in England.

Th e large llrip'd Maple, is commonly propagated by budding
it on the plain kind, and may alfo be raifed from feeds, many of
which will be as finely variegated as the trees tliat produced
them ; a circum-ftance very uncommon in other variegated plants,
\vhich rarely produce their own likenefs.

The fhrip'd Norway Maple, is alfo propagated by budding it
on the plain kind, and is a finely variegated tree, tho' I cannot
fay that the feeds of them will produce variegated plants, nevei-
having been able certainly to procure them of the true kind, the'
I have freqviently fown them as fuch ineffe6lually.

These trees, the firfl, fecond, and fixth forts particularly,
will profper in very indifferent coarle land, but moll affecTis that
which is deep and moift, tho' not wet or ftiff; in fuch places
they will make furprifmg progrefs, and in a few years become
ftately trees. The third, fourth, and fifth forts, delight mofl in
a firm dry mo\dd.

Th e various ufes of this tree to the turner, for diflies, drink-
ing-cups, bowds, and trenchers, and to the joiner for tables, 6'C
are too generally known to require a particular relation here ; but
that of the common lefFer Maple, is irmch the beft wood of all
the kinds we yet know,

E

34 TREATISE on

C II A P T E R V.

The oak TREE.

The Species are :

1. The common Oak.

2. The broad-lea v'd Oak.

3. The Virginian Scarlet Oak.

4. The Virginian Oak, with chefnut leaves.

5. The black Maryland Oak.

6. The white Oak of Carolina.
y. The Oak with woolly leaves.

8. The Chefnut-leav'd Eaftern Oak, with a thick fcaley cup.

9. The broad-lea v'd Eaftern Oak, whofe leaves are finely

cut, with a large acorn, and hairy cup.

10. The Champion Chefnut Oak.

11. The i-ed Maryland Oak.

12. The willow-leav'd Maryland Oak.

13. The Burgundy Oak.

14. The gall-bearing Oak.

15. The cut-leav'd Spanifli Oak.

16. The fwamp Spanilh Oak.
J 7. The ftrip'd Oak.

THERE are many otLer kinds of Oaks mentioned in the
catalogues of different writers on botany and gardening,
hnt thefcj here fele(5led, I have found, from experience, the moft

F Q 11 E S T - T Pv E E 8, 35

dlftincl fpecies, and fineft trees of that tribe I have feen ; many of
the others having little beauty, and fome of them being only Cc-
minal variations : I therefore thought it unnecefTary to enumerate
more, as all the forts may be propagated in the manner here di-
rected,

The fix forts firfk mentioned are trees of the largefl growth,
and therefore fhould be planted where fuch are inquired ; the
others, being of more hiimble flature, may be confined to the wil-
dernefs, or fmaller defigns : But as the wood of the common En-
glifh Oak is much preferable to any of them we yet know, fo the
foreign kinds fliould only be propagated in fmall quantities, for
ornamental purpofes, at leafl till their virtues are better known.

This tree is vifually planted out for good when very young,
from the general belief, that it will not fucceed at any confider-
able age ; and indeed, from the common methods of its culture,
the obfervation is too well founded : But by following better rules,
which I Ihall here endeavour to give, and which are the refult
of very confiderable pradice, it will tranfplant with -certain fuc-
cefs to a large fize.

No tree requires more addrefs, to make a bandfome well-pro-
portion'd free-growing plant, than the Oak ; none is more negledl-
ed, tho' none more worthy our attention. It is rare to fee a
ftraight uniform plantation of them, but where they are crowded
very thick together, or drawn up by the flicker of other plants.

Th e common method of raifing Oaks, is, by fowing them in
beds, very thick, and in that condition letting them fiand two,
E 2

36 TREATISE on

and lomedmes three years. They are naturally carrot-rooted,
ajid run Ilraight down into the earth, with few, and fometimes no
fibres ; and by {landing in this fituation for that time, they are
drawn \ip tall and flendcr ; and their roots having become hard
and wood)-, the cutting away of thefe roots, to a proper length,
which they muft necellarily be, becomes a very violent operation
on the plants ; by which means many of them fail, and the re-
mainder, from fo fevere a check, will be feveral years in gather-
ing roots, and of courfe, during that time, will be ftunted, crofs-
growing,.andlhrubby : But, to remedy thefe evils, purfue the fol-
lowing fyftem, from the obfervation of which I have long been
fuccefsful, in rearing many beautiful, ftraight, and well-propor-
tioned Oaks.,

Having provided yourfelf with acorns in the autumn, gather-
ed from the handfomell and moft vigorous trees, in fair weather,,
fpread them in an airy covered place, and mrn them frequei\tly
till quite dry; when you find they are fo, mix them with land,
Gv loofc light earth, and let them be protected from vermin,
fi-oft, and moillure, till about the middle of February.

At this time, or as foon after it as the weather will admit,,
prepare, by a clean digging and raking, a fpot of good natural
foil ; and, to render tlie crop equal and uniform, try the goodnefs
of your feeds, by throwing them into a tub with wata% when
the frefii will fink to the bottom, and the rotten or defective float
on the furface. The quality of the acorns being thus afcertaiaed,
make fhallow drills acrofs the ground, with a fmall hoe, at eigh-
teen or twenty inches diftance ; and in thefe drop your acorns,
?Jbout two inches fcparatc, covering them, with the back of a rake,

OREST-TREES.

37

two Inches deep ; let the ground be raked fmooth, and kept clean
and mellow during the fuinmer months.

Th e beginning of April, the fucceeding Tpring, cut them im-
der ground as direded for the Beech^ and let them remain till
the Ipring after.

From this fituation, as foon as their buds begin to fwell, ler
them be carefully raifed, without tearing their roots or fibi-es , and
ground being ready, feparate the ftraight free-growing plants
from thecrookedand Ihrubby ; ihorten any downi'ighcor bruifed
roots, but be very fparing of the fmall fibres ; and plant the
ftraight trees in one quarter of the nurfery, in rows, two feet a-
funder, and nine inches in the row ; and the crooked ones in ano-
ther, at the lame diftances : Let thefe plants be as little time as
poilible out of the ground;. for this purpofe, raife few of them at
a time, and if you have the command of four men, they will
fuddenly difpatch a great number of them, that is, by one man
raifing the plants, another pruning them, and giving them to the
planters, and two planting.

If the land is good, and the feafbns have been kindly, the
ftraight plants may be removed in two years ; but when either of
thefe circumftances is otherv,rays, they may continue three fea-'
fons.

Th i: crooked and brufuv trees, having ftood two years in the
mu-fery, rnuft be cut over by the ground, and remain two years
loJiger ; and obfervc, that, as foon as their ilioots are four or five
inches long, you pinch Oilall but: the molt promifing one;, fron^:

3S T R K A T I S E on

-whence thcwhple Ibcngth andjuice:^ of the root will be exerted
ill the fupport of this liiigle Ihoot.

;,;.A3f OTHER method of raifing thffe trees, with equal fuccefs,
is, fowing the acorns on beds, in rows, feven or eight inches a-
funder, and two or three inches in the row, covering them the
ufual depth, and letting them remain only one year.

From t^iefe beds remove them the following fpring, and ha-
ving fliortened their top-roots, lay them in lines, cut down per-
pendiciilar with the fpade, eighteen inches afunder, and eight or
nine inches in the line, where they may continue two years.

From thence remove them, feparating, as has been fiid, the
flraight from the crooked, and plant them in different quarters,
in rows, two feet and a half afunder, and one foot diftance in
the row ; the ftraight plants to continue here three years, and
the crooked, if they have grown freely, to be cut over in one, but
if otherways, not till two years ; and here they lliould remain
three years longer.

Many writers of reputation dlrecT: fowing the acorns, as foon
as thoroughly dry, in 06lober or November, the principle of
growth being fo llrong in them, that they are apt to Ihoot foon.
after, tho' not in the ground, and with that ihoot will decay. This,
they fliy, is the order of nature, and I readily admit it is fo ; nor
do I condemn their practice : But I have found, from innumerable
inftances, the method before direcled will prpdxice better-rooted
and cleaner plants ; and how indeed can it be otherways ? for,
mufl not the ground, which, as it ought, we muft fuppofe has
been well trenched or dug the preceding autumn, mellowed and

FOREST-TREES.

39'

inriched during winter Vv'ith the heavenly influences, and again
in the fpring dug and hiid down fweet and loofe, — muft not the
foil in this condition, I fay, nouridi every plant in a much
higher degree, than that laid down in autumn, hardened and
battered with the winter rains ? And tho' many of the acor.s
will vegetate before fowing, yet that vegetation is preierved by
the mixture of fand or loofe earth, and, before Februar)- , will
make no advance, tending to impede, but, on the contiarT, will
forward the future growth of the plant ; only let it be carefully
attended to, that the acorns have not the fmalleil degree of
moiflure about them when mixed, that the mixture is alfo
dry, and that they are kept proteded from wet.

Gardeners, in general, have the fpeclous word nature eter-
nally in their mouths, and no doubt there is a great deal in it,
when properly underflood and applied ; but the herd of them
knew nothing of either, and the true application of it in garden-
ing, requires good fenfe, joined to much obfervation and experi-
ence : But be that fo, or otherwife, was not nature dehgned to
be modified and improved by art In many things ? If it v*-as not,
many found heads have in vain perplexed themfelvcs in the
ftudy of gardening.

Before proceeding to the further culture of the Oak, this
may be a proper place to take notice of the general, or almoil
univerfal ill pradice of nurferymen, dibbling their plants of one
and two years old, or indeed as large as the dibble, with hard
thrufting, will make room to contain them. Dibbling is hurtful,
in a high degree, to the whole fpecies of trees and plants ; but
to U^e Oak, and all the nut-bearing carrotv-rooted kinds, it is

40

T R E A T I S E ON

-doubly clefLructivc, particularly in ilrong fiifF ground. Common
i-eafon, one would readily believe, fliould point out the abiurdi-
ty pf tills praclice to every gardener of obfervation ; notv.ith-
itanding ^Thicll, 1 do not remember any author ^vho warns uj
againil it, but, on the contrary, many diredl it for. general prac-
tice. If a man, however, refleds but a very little, he muft be
fenfible, that the roots of plants, fqueezed into a hole made
liard by the (irong preilure of a dibble, muft neccfTarily retain the
moifturc in wet weather, to fuch a degree, as to endanger the root-
ing of the roots, and that in dry weather thla hole will be-
come fo hard, as to prevent the tender fibres from extending them-
feives, and procuring proper nourifliment ; fo that if the plant
lives, its roots are comprefled into a fmail hard clufter of moul-
dy fibres, which nothing but fevere pruning a great part of a-
•way, and diiTcrent removals in good foil, will ever recover to a
vigorous (late. Nothing can exculc this pracflice in fenfible
amrfcrymcn, but its being done at lefs expence than laying them
with the fpade ; and that they are in fome meafure forced to it,
from the ignorance and avarice of untutor'd upftarts, who af-
liime the name of nurferymen, and take every opportvmlty that
the worft praclice prelcnts, io it be cheap, of under-felling the
fenfible, honeft, indullrious gardener, and cheating the iinildl-
ful purchufer, no regard being paid to the quality of the plants.

Neithi-.r is the ill effedl of dibbling confined to trees alone,
but extends to many of the herbaceous plants, and other vegeta-
bles, which fuffer in the f;ime proportion. I have often made the
experiment of this in Cabbages, Collyflov/ers, Potatoes, 6 f.
planted on the fame ground, the fiune day ; and 'tis amazing
how much larger thofe were, put in with the fpade or trewel,

FOREST-TREES. 41

Joofely, than thefe dibbled : In fhorc, too much cannot be fliid
againfl this barbarous method of treating trees ; which, if it
prove not their immediate grave, will at lead continue to be their
■prifon. But I ihall now^ rctui^n to the further culture of the Oak,

This tree, having been managed as here directed, will be of
a proper age and fize for being removed to large plantations for
good, and, from the abimdance of their roots, and good propor-
tion of their bodies, will refill the moft violent winds ; but llich
as incline to provide large trees of the common Engliili Oak, for
future purpofes, muft proceed farther, as follows :

Having fixed on a fpot of good mellow ground, that has
been well dug the preceding avitumn, about the end of March,
or beginning of April, give it another digging, level it well, a^nd
pick out all remaining flones and root-weeds from it. As foon
as their buds begin to fvvell, raife fuch trees (which ought to be
the ftraighteft and fineft) as you intend to cultivate further in the
nurfery way ; ilill continue to fhorten fuch roots as tend dowui-
wards, and fmootli the fpreading ones that are long, or have
been wounded with the fpade in railing them ; and where there
are abundance of fibres, you may likewife cut away fome of the
fmalleft, which, if the trees are not immediately planted, will de-
cay, and fometimes bring a mouldnefs about the principal roots :
You muft alfo cat off all ill-placed crofs branches from their
bodies, leaving only a few of the fmaller, at proper intervals, to
detain the fap, for the augmentation of the trunk ; and let not a
bud of the leading flioor be ruffled, as that is difficult to repair
in the Oak, by any other means than cutting over the tree. Let
thefe operations be done in the gcntleft manner, not fliaking tlic
plants, that as much earth as poffible may continue about their
roots. F

42 TREATISE on

Th e trees now properly prepared, plant them in lines, five
feet afunder, and two feet and a half in the line ; give them a
plentiful watering, to fettle the earth to their roots ; and if you
repeat this once a fortnight for three or four times, the feafon
being dry, it will much promote their growth. In this nurfery
they may remain, in good generous land, four, but in poor and
htingiT, five 01' fix years : Let the ground be annually dug be-
tween the lines, and the trees pruned every fpring, with the
fame care and attention as at removing them. I cannot here
leave the article of pruning, without begging to be a little fur-
ther indulged, in obferving, that no circumftance is attended
wath worfe confequences to plantations of trees in general, than
t]v2 neglect of timely and regular pruning when young ; and
what muft render it quite inexcufable, is, that even in ample
plantations, the expence is very trifling, when annually perform-
ed. The cutting of yoiing and tender branches can have no ill
efFedl, either on the life or growth of the tree ; but the wounds
made by lopping off old wood, always much weakens, and often
produces a gangrene that proves mortal, in fbme kinds by excef-
five bleeding, and in others, by imbibing moifture, and com-
municating it to the body. Thefe are truths fovinded on na-
ture, reafon and experience, and which ought to warn all plant-
ers to a due performance of this operation, as, from the judici-
ous pradice of it, joined to the other articles of culture
mentioned, the plants are not only prefervcd in a healthful
free growing flate, but may be formed to any iliape or propoi-
tion ycai pleafe, their nature will admit of; but which neglected
a few years, no i\iture difcipline will reduce to fine plants. But
if Oaks have been neglecled, and grown rude, the bcfl feafon of
cutting their large branches is in March ; for the young and
tender, any time from raitumn till fpring is equal.

FOREST-TREES.

43

Th E trees from this culture will now be finely rooted, ftraight
and well-proportioned, and, in an ordinary fod and fituation,
from ten to twelve feet high; and thofe firll cut over, will be
the largefl: and handfomelt plants.

But to make them proper for tranfplanting at a larger fize,
remove them again to any convenient fpot of tolerable grovind,
managing the roots as formerly ; and plant them in lines, eight
feet afunder, and fix feet in the line, watering them plentifully
when planted ; where they may continue fix or feven years, by
which time they will be about twenty feet high.

If ftill a referve of larger is wanted, remove them once more,
and plant them twelve feet afunder ; give them an abundant wa-
tering at planting, and repeat it three or four times, more or
lefs as the nature of the feafon requires. In this fituation they
may continue, ready for whatever new defign occurs, for eight
or ten years, when, by a careful removal, and four or five plen-
tiful waterings the firll and fecond fummer, they will grow as
luxuriantly as if they had flood in the fame foil from tlie fmall-
ell fize, and arrive as foon at full maturity, with this advan-
tage, that the trees, from tlie regxilar and timely prunings they
have had, muft of courfe be formed to their proper fliape, and
will reqiiirc little or no further trouble.

Th o' moft of the deciduous trees, particularly large plants of
them, fucceed befi, being planted in autumn, the Oak is one
exception to this rule, and is found univerfally to remove with
more fafety, and grow more freely, when tranfplanted in the j
fpring ; therefore this feafon fhould be invariably obferved, as,
in wet, or even moiil fwampy lands, I have often knov/n large
F 2

44

1' 11 E A T 1 S E

plantations of them almofl totally dellroycd by autumnal, or
winter planting.

This noble tree, tlxe monarch of the woods, the boafl and
bulwark of the Britifli nation, will grow freely in a great varie- '
ty of foils, now either altogether wafte, appropriated to the
produdion of meaner trees, or other more ignoble purpofes.
This proceeds from not attending to its nature and properties,
by making the experiment of planting it on all the various foils ;
for thotigh, like the greatefh part of other trees, it (particularly at
firft) affeds a found deep mould, it wall, notwithllanding, profper
cxceediiigly on the coarfeft moid gravel, loam and fand, or ftifF
heavy clay and till (which moil: other trees abhor), and that too
when thefe foils are fo lleril and hvmgry as not to afford gra-
zing for Ineep.

The firip'd Oak, is propagated by budding or grafting it on
the common kind, and is a very beautiful variegation, which I
have much improved, both in the brightnefs of the colours, and
fize of the leaf, by joining it to the fcarlet Virginian, and
chefnut-leav'd kinds.

Th e tenderer kinds of Oaks will be rendered more hardy, and
the dwarf kinds improved in fize, by grafting and budding on
the common fort, which, to thofe who incline to have all the
fpecies of this fine plant in its greatcfl perfecflion and beauty, is
well worth the trouble of thcfc operations.

Th e value and ufes of the wood of this tree, are fo univer-
fally known, that it would be an iiTfult on the underftanding of
the meaneft mechanic, to employ time in relating thein here.

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 45

Chapter VI.
The ash TREE.

The Species arc :

1. The common Ash.

2. The Manna As n.

3. The Virginian flowering As H.

4. The New-England A s H , with iliarp-pointed leaves.

5. The Carolina Ash.

6. The white American Ash.

7. The black American Ash.

8 . The red American Ash,

9. The white-flowering As H.

<i o. The Ash with ftrip'd leaves.

HAVING gathered the keys of the common Afli, in fair
weather, about the beginning of November, from hand-
fome vigorous trees, fpread them in an airy loft or covered place,
turning them frequently till quite dry, which, in a proper fitua-
tion, they will be in three or four weeks time ; then mix them
with loofe fandy earth, and let them be proteded from wet till
the following fpring, when they ought to be fown about the be-
ginning of April, on well-prepared frefh mellow foil, on beds
three and a half feet broad, with alleys eighteen inches between
the beds, and covered three quarters of an inch deep. Thefc
feeds will not appear above ground till the fucceeding fpring,

46 TREATISE on

during whicli time it mud notwithflanding be kept quite
clean, and as loofe and little poached as pofTible ; and in
Eebruary, before the feeds begin to fpring, let the furface of
the ground be gently raked over, removing ail mufty and foggy
particles they may have contraded during the winter, and
throw a little frefli rich moidd over them, to replace what you
have taken away, which will much promote the future growth
of the plants. In this fcminary the trees are to remain only one
year.

Having prepared another quarter of good ground in the nur-
fery, in the fame manner as for the feed, the following February
or March, remove them ; keep them as fliort time as may be
out of the ground, to prevent the fmall fibres withering, and cut
away only the downright top-roots ; lay them in drills, cut down
perpendicular with the fpade, as diredled for other plants ; let
thefe drills be eighteen or twenty inches afunder, and plant
them at the diftance of eight or nine inches in the drill ; give
them a gentle watering at planting, and continue it three or four
times, at proper intervals, if the weather is dry ; and here, giving
them proper culture, let them remain two feafons.

In Oclober, as foon as their leaves are tarniflied, remove them
from this nurfery ; and having pruned off, clofe by the body, all
the ftrong and ill-placed branches, flill leaving a number of
fmall ones to attratfl and detain the fap for the augmentation of
the trunk, plant them in another quarter of any tolerable ground,
in lines, three feet and a half afunder, and fifteen or fixteen
inches in the line, where they may remain three years, obfer- .
ving to dig the ground between the lines every fpring.

FOREST-TREES. 47

By this time the trees, in an ordinary foil, will be about feven
or eight feet high, flrong, well-rooted, and of a proper fize to
make extenfive plantations ; but where a fucceflion of large ones
are wanted, remove them every fourth year, pruning their roots
and bodies as formerly, watering them at planting, and three
or four times afterwards, in dry weather, every twelve or four-
teen days, giving them greater intervals in proportion to their
fize, as directed for the Elm ; from which management, they
may be removed at any biilk you cliufe them, v/ithout anj icn-
fible check.

All the other kinds are propagated by budding them on the
common Afli, which being a large-growing hardy tree, will be
a confiderable improvement on the dwarfifli and tenderer forts.

The Afh ought neither to be plaiited in gardens, near
other trees, nor in any mixt plantations. There is no plant I
remember, that fo foon, and lb mvich exhaufts the virtues of the
foil ; and the ihade is malignant to every produdlion of the earth,
being thus a Hep-dame to other trees : Let them be planted in
concert, where, notwithilanding thefe unfriendly qualities, if
properly managed, they will yield great returns of profit to the
owner in a few years.

Ti, IS tree will grow in very fleril barren foil, and in the
bleakeft and moft expofed (ituations ; but in a deep mould, tho'
of no generous qualitv, and where there is no {landing water,
it will quickly arrive to a great magnitude.

Tt" F. wood of the Afh (next to that of the Oak) is of the mod
^uiiverfal uie, particularly for all the implements of hulbandry,.

48 TREATISE on

It has alfo this fingular advantage, that, when young, it is as
ilrong and lading timber as that of old trees ; but the value, and
particular xifes of it, being fo univcrfally knov/n, makes it un-
neceffary to be related here.

I SHALL difmifs this ufeful, though not ornamental tree, in
mentioning an experiment 1 made very early in life of its va-
lue, by planting a fpecimen of them in copfe, intended princi-
pally to fupply myfelf with poles for efpalier hedges, and ftakcs
for dead fences, for which purpofes no v^ood is more proper or
la fling.

For thefe ends, in very obrtinate heavy meadow ground^
compofed chiefly of fteril red clay and mofs, I planted half a
rood, or the eighth part of an acre, with Afli trees fix years old,
and about eight feet high. I placed them in rows, four feet a-
funder, and two feet diftance in the row, where I let them re-
iPiain untouched, only digging the ground about them every
autumn, for foiir years, when I cut them over five or fix inches
above ground for the purpofes meant, which they then fully
anfwered, referving twenty of the faireil: plants, at proper di-
flances, for trees.

I CONTINUED to dig the groimd two years longer, and then
left them to nature for five years more, that is, feven from their
being cut down. Having more of them than anfwered my own
purpofes, or indeed than I could have imagined fo fmall a fpot
of ground would produce, I thought of making the mofl of what
I had to fpare, and accordingly meafured off exadly one half of
them, which I fold for pollards and hoops, at forty Ihillings.

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 49

I CUT them again in fix years more, which, being flronger
than the former, I fold for fifty fhillings.

In fix years after this, I again cut them over, and though thefe
were mvich the largell Ihoots, I fold them at the fame price as
the laft.

There remained now twenty trees on the whole ground, in-
tended to fland for timber, ten of which grew amongft the copfe
I had fold. My meaning was not to touch thefe till the decline
of my life, that I might leave to poflerity what obfervations I
was able to make, of the profit a man who begins to plant M-hen
young, may reap from it in his own time : Biit the crofs events of
fortune difappointed me ; for, becoming fccurity in confiderable
fums for others, who failed in their affairs, I was obliged, by
rigid creditors, to fell my land, at which time my neceflities
alfo conftrained me to fell my trees of all kinds. I hope the rea-
der will excufe this digrefllon, which I believed neceffary, to re-
move the juft refled:ion every judicious planter would make
againft me, for cutting down hopeful trees at fo early and un-
profitable a period, if I could have avoided it. Thofe trees I
fold, of twenty-three years growth, at feven fhillings a tj-ee, to a
cart-wright, which was L. 3 : i o s. for the ten trees on the copfe
ground I had cvit and fold three times before.

Thus it appears, that an acre of indifferent ground (for mine
was very bad) planted with Afh trees in the manner defcribed,
near, or eafily carried to any populous town, will yield, in
twenty-three years time, L.i 15 : los. without any other expence

50 TREATISE on

over die copfe, which is very trifling, and which the owner ought,
in all events, to do himfelf carefully for his own fake : Let them
be cut, llanting, -with fharp inftruments, leaving all the wounds
iinooth and clean, to prevent the wet from lodging in the flocks,
from whence it might commimicatc to the roots, and conta-
minate the whole plant, and which a common purchafer of
the copfe would probably pay little attention to. The beft fea-
fon for this work, is the month of February, before the fap be-
gin to rife. I have not mentioned any price for the firfl cutting,
having ufed them myfelf : Thefe were planted at eight feet high,
and had flood four years from planting, fo that, from the low-
eft calculation, they mufl have been worth more than pay the
whole expence of labour: To which I muft add, that, after felling
the lafl cutting of my copfe, I was informed by an honeft man,
a good judge of the value of that commodity, that I had been
grofsly deceived by the purchafer, and that I fliould have recei-
ved one-third part at leafl more money than I did.

It is neceffary to obferve, for the benefit of fuch as incline
to follow this pradlice, which is furely worth attending to, as it
might foon become a very profitable improvement, that, after
the fecond cutting, I found I had planted my copfe too thick,
and that, had they been at greater diflances, I fhould have reap'd
confiderably more advantage from them : I therefore now, from
experience, advife them to be planted in rows, fix feet afunder,
and three feet in the xow.

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 51

Chapter VII.
The L I M E TREE.

The Species are :

1. The broad-lea v'd flowering Lime Tree.

2. The red-twig'd Lime Tree.

3. The green-twig'd Lime Tree.

4. The linall-leav'd Lime Tree, of a tawny green colour

both in the leaf and bark.

5. The flrlp'd-leav'd Lime Tree.

TH E firfl mentioned fort Is the finefl plant of the fpecies ;
The fecond is next to be preferred; it has alfo large leaves,
grows to be a ftately tree, and the fhining deep red colour of its
bark has a chearful and agreeable effedl in winter. The third
and fourth forts are much inferior in beauty, and grow in a
loofe and flraggling manner, nor ever make fo flraight or lofty
trees ; they are therefore unworthy of propagation, in compari-
fon of the two former kinds ; nor would I have named them,
but to warn the planters of Lime trees to beware of the fores
they purchafe, as the nurferies in this country generally abotmd
molt in thefe two laft forts, which, perhaps, not being known to
every niirferyman, are all indifcriminately raifed and fold toge-
ther, and which, when placed by the fides of walks, or in the
ftralght lines of avenues, from the irregularity of their form,
and dilTereuce of growth, very much deface fuch plantations,
G 2

Sz TREATISE on

The Lime tree may be propagated by feeds, which are ripe
about the end of Oclober, and Ihould, after being quite dry,
be mixed with fand, and prote(5ted from froll and rain, till the
beginning of March ; when they ought to be fown in a Ihady
border of rich, moift, loamy foil, in beds three and a half feet
wide, with alleys of eighteen inches, and covered three quarters,
of an inch deep. AVhen the feeds begin to peep, let them be
frequently watered, and increafc the quantity as the plants ad-
vance in growth : Let the beds, in autumn and fpring, be ma-
naged as directed for other hardy feedling trees ; and here let

Thfsf. plants, raifed from feeds, make very little progrefs for
three or four years ; and as they may readily be increafed by
layers, which will fave muck time, and make equally good
plants, (fmce, in that way, they root abundantly, and grow with
great eafe and freedom) I would advife the pradice of it as the
bed method to have plantations of thefe trees fpeedily.

Therefore, having provided yourfelf with flools, or mother-
plants, after the fame manner as direded for the Englifli Elm, and
planted at the fame diflances, with which, till now, the culture of the
Lime will exadlly agree, lay down their branches any time from
September till April ; only obferve, that the plants laid down in
autumn, will be better rooted, and liave (Ironger fhoots than tlaofe
done in the fpring.

A QUART FR of generous frefh ground having been well pre-
pared, about the middle of OcTtober take up your layers care-
fully, without tearing or bruifmg their fibres ; fliortcn their

FOREST-TREES. 53

roots moderately, and cut away fuch as crofs each other : If the
layer is plentifully I'ooted, and thick-bodied in proportion to its
height, fo as not be lliaken or difplaccd by the winds, it may be
planted at full length ; but fuch as arc tall and (lender, (which,
even laid by the beft hands, will be the greateft part) muft be cut
over, from fix inches to a foot high, more or lefs in proportion
to the quantity of their roots ; plant tliem (thefe at full length
feparate from the others) in lines, three feet afunder, and fifteen
inches diilant in the line, giving the ground the ufual culture
of hoeing and digging as for other tixes ; and here let them re-
main three years.

From tliencc remove them,, at the fame feafon as formerly, to-
another quarter of flout ground, drefling their roots, and prun-
ing their bodies, as diredled for the Englilh Elm, and plant them
in lines, five feet afunder, and two feet in the fine ; repeat the
proper pruning in February every feafon, as alfo fpring and
aiitumn digging ; and, in this utuation, they may continue four
years.

Remove them again to another nurfery, ftill in good deep
ground, and plant them in lines, feven feet afunder, and three
feet in the line, annually giving them the neceflary pruning, and
digging the ground between them ; where they may remain four
years, and no longer.

By this time the trees, being eleven years old, will, if the foil
has- been middling, and the culture diredied given them, be ge-
nerally above twenty feet high ; but as a fuccefiion of the good
kinds of large trees, that move v/ith fafety, will alwa^ s be ufeful

54 TREATISE on

to a man of fortune pofleiTed of land, as alfo to a nurferyman
for gain, I would advife, flill to remove a number of thefe into
another nurfery, planting them at ten feet afunder, croping the
ground with fuch kitchen herbs as are beft fuited to the foil,
which will pay both rent and labour, and letting them remain
five or fix years ; by which time they will be from thirty to
thirty- -five feet high, and will fucceed at, and after removal, as
well as the fmallell plant, by giving them three or four plenti-
ful waterings in dry weather, the firfl, and, in cafe of a long con-
tinued drought, the fccond feafon.

The Lime mofc affecls a rich-feeding loamy foil, but will
grow freely in any tolerable land, of a competent depth, though
coarfe and heavy ; tliey will alfo grow in fandy and gravelly
land, but not with the fame beauty or advantage, as, in fuch
fituations, their leaves, in dry feafons, are often infeiled with
infedls, and decay early in the autumn ; therefore, in thin
hungry foil, they ought not to be planted in quantities, though
a few of them may be agreeable, even there, for variety.

Th e timber of the Lime tree, is much preferable to that of
any kind of the Willow, being (Ironger, and yet lighter ; it is
ufed by the carver, by architedls for framing the models of their
buildings, and by the turner for making bowls, diihes, or.
I am likewife alfured, it is very proper for lining of rooms, and
that, when painted, it will lafl long.

This graceful and magnificent tree, the greateft ornament of
the Britifli gardens and villas, and pride of planters in the laft,
and great part of the prcfcnt century, is now in lefs eftcem than

r O R E S T - T R E E S. 5^

formerly, though for what good reafon I cannot eafily account,
iis it has more good properties, the vahie of the wood only ex-
cepted, and that too far from being ufelefs, than moft trees I
know. It prodvices a large, tall, upright body, linooth fliining
bark, ample leaf, goodly and extenfive fhade, healthful odorife-
rous blofToms, is admirable food for bees, refills the winds,
bears lopping off large branches without injury, foon heals of its
fears and wounds, continues found to a great age, and, of all
the trees yet known, the Englidi Elm excepted, makes the fined,
loftieft, and quickeft palifade hedges,

I SAY then, from what caufes this tree has fallen into difefleem,
is to me furprifmg. It were prefumptuous and infolent in me,
to arraign the tafte and judgment of the numerous, learned, and
refpeclable body of planters in Great Britain ; nor am I either
weak or vain enough to make fuch an attempt, but I cannot
help doing what I think juflice to this plant. I have argued
with many of them, in defence of its beavity and utility in various
refpedls ; the beauty of the tree I have never heard difputed,
nor ever found the arguments againft it go further, than the
defedl of fliading its leaves early in autumn ; but this is only
materially fo, when they are planted in poor, thin, or hot foil,
which they diflike, and which, being frequently praclifed, I pre-
fume is the principal reafon for their being difcredited ; but as
the fafhions change, and many beautiful plants, as well as other
things, have been out and in during my time, fo I hope to live
and fee the Lime again refmne its former rank and charader.

56 TREATISE o ?.-

Chapter Vlll.
The hornbeam TREE.

The Species are:

1. The common Hornbeam.

2. The Hop Hornbeam.

3. The Virginian Flowering Hornbeam.

4. The {Irip'd Horn &£ am.

*' B ^HE common Hornbeam flionld be propagated by feeds,
which being ripe in autumn, after fpreading them in a
loft till dry, ought to be mixed with land till the following
fpring, when they may be fown thin on beds of frefli earth,
three and a half feet broad, with alleys eighteen inches wide be-
tween the beds, and covered three quarters of an inch deep.
Thefe feeds will remain a year in the ground before the plants
appear ; during which time, the earth mull be kept clean and
mellow. In February next, loofen the furface of the beds with
a fliort-teeth'd rake, fo as not to diflurb the feeds, and throw a
gentle covering of frefli mould over them ; where they may re-
main for two years, if not too thick, as the plants make flow
progrefs the firfl feafon, and arc naturally well-rooted.

Fr o m the feed-bed remove them earlv in October, or as foon
after as the weather will admit, into any frelli fpot of ground

F O R E S T - T II E E S. 57

in the nurfery you can bed fpare, tho' of an indifferent quality ;
reduce the fuperiiuous roots, cutting away fuch as crofs one a-
nother, and plant them m rows, two feet and a half afundcr,
and a foot diftance in the row; to remain three years, digging
the ground between the rows annually.

By this time the plants will be fit enough for hedges, where
immediate flaelter is not required, or for woods, to be mixed with
other young trees ; but where you intend at once to have the advan-
tages of warmth and ornament, a little more labour is required.

Therffore, where you defire to have Hornbeam hedges
planted at ieven or eight feet high, remove them from the for-
naer nurfery to another, and place them in rows, ten feet afundcr
row from row, and five feet diftance in the row, training them
annually in the regular hedge form, but always obferving to keep
them light and thin in the top, when, after four years Handing,
they may be raifed and planted out compleat hedges where
defigned to remain, and when they will have fuch abundance
of roots as to defy the ftrongeft winds, and require no further
expence or trouble than two or three plentiful waterings, and
keeping their roots clean for three or four years.

Th e ftraighteft plants intended for trees, may, at ralfing them
from the firft nurfery, be feparated from thofe for hedges, and
planted in rows, five feet afunder, and two feet diftance in the
row ; let them be annually pruned to their proper form, and from
hence they may' be removed to the places where thev are meant
to remain, after three or four years ftanding.
H

58 T R t A T I S E on

Th e iecoiid and third forts arc eafily increafed by layers, and
make an agreeable variety with other trees in the wildernefs.

Th e ftrip'd kind is propagated by budding it on the common^
but the colours are not ilron"; or lively.

Though I am no advocate for the Hornbeam tree in orna-
mental plantations, or in generous foils and iheltered fituations,
yet its being one of the hardieft trees known, the many good
qualities of the wood, and the fudden flicker and warmth hedges
of it afford, appear to give it fome claim to ovir attention, parti-
cularly in the cold expofed parts of the country.

It will grow furprifmgly in the coldcil hills, and in the ftiffeft,
.barren, and otherways worthlefs ground ; nor do I know any
ufeful timber-tree, that maintains itfelf fo ftoutly againft the
winds ; fo that, being of quick growth, and clad in its numer-
ous leaves all winter, it is certainly one of the fitteft plants to
nurfe and rear up other valuable or- delicate trees.

The wood is white, tough, and flexible, is ufeful for many
articles to the turner, for mill-cogs, (in which it excels the Yew
itfelf), fliocks, and handles of tools, with many inflruments of
liufljandry ; it is lading fire-wood, and burns as clear as a candle.

Tiis likeways, of all trees yet known, befc preferves itfelf
from thebruttings of deer; fo that clumps of them in deer-parks
would be no fmall improvement, both in point of beauty, and
for flicker to tliefe animals.

F O R E S T » T R E E S. 59

Chapter IX.
The WALNUT TREE.

The Species are :

1. The common Walnut.

2. The large French Walnut.

3. The thin-fheU'cl Walnut.

4. The double Walnut.

5. The late-ripe Walnut.

6. The hard-fliell'd Walnut.

7. The Virginian black AValnut.

8. The Virginian black Walnut, with

fruit.

9. The Hickory, or white Virginian Walnut.
10. The fmall Hickory, gr w^hite Virginian Walnut.

MR MILLER, in the Gardener's Ditflionary, feems to be of
opinion, that the iirfh-mentioned fix kinds are only feminal
variations, and not diflincT: fpecies, as in mofl other forts of fruit-
trees ; and fays, the trees raifed from thefe different feeds, rarely
produce the fame kinds of fruit again. This is a point I have
not lived long enough to determine ; for tho' I have planted the
feeds of all the fpecies of Walnuts (or names given them forfuch)
I could procure, marking thefe fpecies or names diflindlly, I have
yet reap'd very little fruit from them ; but one circuraflancc I ara
H 2

So TREATISE on

well afifured of, is, that tlie fruit of the lecond aud third forts,
commonly pafling under the names here given them, and of
\y4^fih, Jihfi-ve feen and eat many, are fecmingly very different,
and much finer fruit than the others : Therefore, tp make fure
of the bcft, at leafl for a gentleman's private life, I advife that
thefe two forts be inarched on the common Walnut, in which
they will fucceed and produce fruit in one third part of the time
they would do from feeds, tho' the tree Avill not be either fo large
or fo lafling.

Of all trees the Walnut is one of the mofl difficult to reduce
tX5, any regular uniform appearance ; it naturally grows in a ragged
diforderly manner, and pruning it being deftrudlivc, it defpifes
the art and induftry of the gardener : With refpecl then to its
form and growth, we will leave it to nature, and only endeavour
to point out fome aids that will much aflifl: her in the early and
plentiful production of good fruit, and which vmafllfted nature
will be many years in effecling.

Inarching the particular kinds you chufe, has already been
mentioned ; but to make extenfive plantations for fruit, than
which few improvements would in time give greater returns of
gain, proceed as follows ;

Having procured a parcel of the largeff and beft-ripen'd nuts,
of the fecond and tliird forts, from France, provide alfo a parcel
of thin flat ftones, tyle-Paerds, or flates, from a foot to eighteen
inches broad ; lay them clofe together in lines, tlie length of the
quarter in the nvirfery intended to be planted with the nuts ; bury
them in the ground about eight inches deep, and plant your

F O R E S T - T R E £ ,S. 6i

Walnuts fix inches afunder, and two inches deep, along the mid-
dle part of thefe materials ; the tender roots thus meeting with
oppofition, and unable to penetrate further, will fpread themfelves
on the furface of the Hones, 6v. but not having fo much nou-
rilhment or moifture in dry weather as in the open ground, or
as may be neceffary to make them grow freely, they will require
frequent but gentle waterings, both the firll and fecond fummer,
during which time they muft remain.

Having ftood here two feafons, as early in the autumn as
their leaves are decayed, and the flioots hardened, raife them
carefully, and, without the fmalleft incilion on root or branch,
plant them again fourteen or fixteen inches afunder, on the fame
kind of bottom, or any other hard rubbilh that will not invite
the roots downward. Thefe materials muft be funk three or four
inches deeper, and fix or eight inches broader than the former,
to prevent the roots, having covered their bed, from running deep.
At the end of two years, remove the earth from the roots of
fome of the plants ; and if you find they have not near covered
their bed, they may continvie a third year ; but if they have, and
are tending downward, they muft be removed : During all the
tmie of their continuance here, they will require moderate^ wa-
terings in dry weather.

Repeat this pradlice once again, making their bedding about
three feet broad, and the foil above fifteen or fixteen inches deep ;
plant them at two feet afunder, and, as before, without pruning
roots or bodies, further than the fmall branches near the root ;
and if thefe are rub'd off wuth your hand early in fummer,
while the flioots are tender, it will be preferable to the moft fiiii-

62 TREATISE on

ful pruning : In this place, if the foil is rich, let them remain
three, or, if poor, four years.
i<r/-j-ajui.ai Jlad '-- '''i>u •>fli n •

By this :tiitie 'the trees will "be ih a: proper condition for re-
moval to where they are defigned to remain for good, which,
as diey are chiefly intended for fruit, ought to be a dry foiind
land, with a fandy, gravelly, or chalky bottom, but by no means
in a deep heavy mould, where the roots would flill tend down-
ward, imbibe the crudities of an ingx-ateful foil, and get below
the inliuences of the flm and rains, which would not only affedt
the flavour of the fruit, but keep the trees much longer from be-
coming fruitful.

If they are planted by way of orchard, from thirty to thirty-
iive feet will be a realbnable diilance ; but why may we not
plant them as they do in Burgundy, in their fields of wheat and
other grain, at fixty or feventy feet diftance, which is fo far from
hurting the crop, that they look on them as a great preferver of
it, by keeping the ground warm in winter, neither do the roots
iiinder the plough ? and if the Burgundlans find their flieltcr
ufefvil with them, how infinitely more fo muft it be in this cold
iiland of ours ? But the advantages accruing from the general
culture of this tree in France, are not peculiar to that countiy
alone ; for over great part of Germany, they find their gain from
it fo great, that in many places a law lately fubfifted, and I be-
lieve does to -this dav, by which no )oung farmer is permitted to
marry a wife, till he bring proof that he has planted, and is the
father of a certain number of Walnut trees. The fruit will
ripen perfedly well in all the cultivated parts of Great Britain ;
and the method of managing the trees, as here direcfced, being

r O R E S T - T R E E S. 63

attended to, will make it higher flavoured, ripen it earlier in tiie
feafon, and bear a plentiful crop twenty years fooiic:- than it would
othcrways do cultivated in the ufual way. The bell manure for
fruit-bearing Walnut trees, is, ftrewing over the furfacc of the
ground with allies the beginning of winter, the land having been
plow'd, or otherways laboured, l^efore tliat time.

How much would inch plantations improve the beauty and
wealth of this nation? and how greatly is it to be lamented, that
men of fortune fo feldom undertake fuch noble public works,
for a blefling to tHe poor, the general good of the country, as
well as their own private intereft ? as, by the common culture of
this ti'ce for fruit, large fums of money, annually fent abroad,
would be laved in a few years, and that too at an inconliderable
expence.

Thus having direCled the befl; pracftice I know, for fuddenly
procuring plentiful crops of Walnuts, it remains to conlider the
moA, proper irtanner for ctdtivating the tree for timber,
rnhfR ■ li bnK < .

The Virginian kinds for this purpofe, bnt particularly the
feventh and eighth forts, are much px-eferable to the others ; they
grow fafter, and become larger and loftier trees, and the wood is
alfo faid to be of a fuperior quality.

Th e Walnut tree is more impatient of tranfplanting than mofc
others ; the top-roots, being of a pithy hollow texture, do not
agree with cutting ; which, if it does not dertroy them altoge-
ther, weakens them fo much, that they make little advance for
feveral years, and indeed never Deco-ue vij^oroas or conio;^
Uxes.

64 1' R £• A T I S E on

Therefore, to have a plantation of them for thnber, pro-
cin-e a parcel of their nuts, of the feventh and eighth forts, from
Virginia, which may eafily be had at a trifling expence ; and
having prepared yonr ground, by a good deep plowing, digging,
or, bell of all, trenching, the autumn before, in February plant
your nuts in drills drawn out with the hoe, and cover them
between two and three inches deep ; let the drills be five feet a-
funder, and the nuts planted about eighteen inches diflantinthe
drill ; and as many of them are to remain, to fill the land pro-
perly with timber-trees, let the ground be kept clean, by hoeing
in fummer, and mellowed by digging before winter, for two
vears ; after which, you mufl carefully raife every fecond plant
in the lines, without in the leaft difturbing what remains, which
will leave them at a fuitable diflance for {landing four or five
years longer. After the firfl two years, the ground between the
trees may be employed in crops of Turnip, Carrot, Beans, Cab-
bages, and various other kitchen herbs ; which, if properly kept
in order, will, from the culture the land receives, improve the
growth, rather than injure the trees. From time to time, as
they advance in ftature, the leaft proniifing of them mufl be
taken away, by cutting them below ground, to prevent hurting
the roots of what remains ; and this muft be repeated, tho' not
till their branches are near touching one another, as the ftanding
moderately thick will promote their upright growth, till they
ai-e left at the diftance of about thirty feet.

If you incline to fave the plants that were raifed at two years
old, take them up with the grcatell care, without wounding the
fmallefl part of their roots, or bruifmg their fibres, and imme-
diately plant them out at full length, the fame difli^nces you did

FOREST-TREES. 65

the nuts, treating them afterwards in all refpeds after the fame
manner as direded for them.

Th o' it has been obferved, that prvming in general is hurt-
ful to this tree, the branches as well as roots being of a fpungy
hollow nature, yet, when it has been omitted to pinch off the
yoving tender flioots, fome degree of it will become neceffary,
where branches that crofs each other, would deftroy themfelves,
and injure the whole tree ; let fuch then be cut off fmooth, and
clofe to the body, about the middle of September, that the wound
may heal, and be covered before the winter rains ; and that as
little of this may be pradlifed as poffible, let the plantation be
annually examined, and all the young crofs- growing branches
taken away, to prevent the necefTity of lopping old ones, which
is doubly hurtful.

The foil for the Walnut intended for wood, need neither be
fo warm, or generous, as that for fruit. Indeed, where large
growth is the only motive, the whole fpecies delight moll in a
deep, found, rich-feeding land, on which, if it incline to marie in
the bottom, they will grow amazingly ; but, notwithftanding,
they will fucceed, and make goodly trees, in any ordinary foil
that has a competent depth of mould, tho' coarfe and ftoney : I
have likewife feen many {lately trees of them on clay.

The value of the wood, for chairs, bed-fleads,, tables, wainf^
coting of rooms, cabinets, gun-ilocks, 6^. is univcrlally
known.

' ' T

55 TREATISE on

Chapter X.
The CHESNUT TREE.

The Species are :
i. The common or SpanUla Chesnut.

2. The ftripd Chesnut.

3. The Chinquapin, or dwarl Virginian Chesnut,

THIS much neglecT;ed, tho' graceful and magnificent ti-ee, by
attcnding to its proper culture, for fruit, timber, and copfc-
wood, might, in a few years, become amoi^ the greatefl advan-
ta"-es this country can reap by planting : I Ihall therefore be
particular in direding the beft methods I know, of propagating
them for thefc different purpofes.

To raife them for fruit, procure a parcel of the nuts from
Portugal or Spain ; pick out the largefl, plumpeft, and brownefl
of them ; the goodnefs of the feed is known by its weight, to
try which, throw them into a tub of water; rejeft fuch as fwim,
but thofe that fink you may be fure are good ; preferve them
in dry land till tlae beginning of March, when, having prepared
a fpot of loofe mellow ground, fow them in drills made with the
hoe, three inches deep, the drills aboxit fourteen inches afunder,
and the nuts fix inches in the drill, where, as they fhoot fi'cely,
I would advife that they only remain one year.

In February, or early in March following, which, from re-
peated experience, I prefer to the autumnal planting of thefe

FOREST-TREES. 67

trees, remove them to another quarter ; fhorten their top-roots
with a fliarp knife, fmooth and clean, fparlng their fpreading fibres,
and keeping them as fliort time as poffible out of the ground, to
keep thefe fibres frefli, and prevent their moulding ; plant them
in lines, two and a half feet afunder, and one foot diftance in
the line, keeping them clean in fummer, and pointing over the
ground between the lines fpring and autumn, when any crofs
ill-placed branches may be pruned off; and in this fituation
let them remain two years.

Remove them carefully, by taking up their whole fibres, to
another frefla qxiarter of the nurfery, flill obiervlng to fliorten
their top-roots, to cut off fuch as crofs each other, and fmooth
the ends of the fpreading ones, which will now be ftronger and
more numerous ; at the iame time, prune away any ill-placed
branches from their bodies and tops ; which being done, plant
them in lines four feet afunder and two feet diftance in the
line, where, managing them in other refpects as directed for
the former nurfery, let them continvie three years.

By this time thefe trees will be of a proper age and fize, ei-
ther for ornamental plantations in avenues, clumps in parks, the
wildernefs, or in the orchard way for fruit ; but it may be ne-
ceflary here to obferve, that the fhade of the Chefnut, like that of
theAfli, is obnoxious to other plants, and that theylhould therefore
be placed in thickets, or other detached plantations, by themfelves.

Th e ground intended for a confiderable plantation of fruit-
bearing Chefnut trees, fliould have three or four plowings the
preceding fummer and winter ; and if one good digging is ad-
ded a little before planting, it will be a great improvement to
I z

68 TREATISE on

the foil, as I hold the labour of the fpade to be of all others the
beft. This bemg done, your trees -carefully raifed, their roots
and bodies properly pruned, plant them in Itraight ro%\'s, fix feet
diftant every way ; let the ground be annually dug, to encou-
rage the fpreading of their roots, and, at this diftance, they may
remain till the branches begin to approach each other, when
you muft take up, by the roots, every fecond row entirely, and
CA-ery fecond plant in tlie row remaining, which will leave them
at twelve feet diftance ; and the wood of the trees taken up, will
be highly ufeful for many purpofes of gardening and farming.
Having dug or half-trenched the land, (for deep trenching
would increaie the growth, but retard the fertility), it may, for
fom'^ ye.-lrS, if of a good quality, be profitably employed in Pota-
toes, '<iabba'gcs. Turnips, and many otlier crops, which, by
dio-ging in the' leaves of the Chefnuts, when rotted, (the belt of
all manure for them), Avill, inftead of exhaufting, annually invi-
gorate the foil, and improve the plantations both for fruit and
timber. Thefe trees having ftood till their branches begin to
meet as formerly, muft again be reduced in the fame proportion
the others were, which will leave them at twenty-four feet di-
ftance every way, and at which diftance they may remain for
good. The \vood of this laft felling will faw into Imall boards,
and, being^ now about twenty years old, muft be rooted out en-
tirely, to prevent impoverifing the land, and robbing the trees
of their proper nourilhment, which, as the Chefnut ftioots vi-
goroufty after cutting over, muft neceflarily be the cafe. The
timber of thefe taken up, being of ftzc for feveral ufeful purpofes,
"C/ill bflhg a confiderable price from the joiner, cabinet-maker,
C^V. and the remaining trees, which already have produced
fruit for feveral year?, v/ill henceforward bear vaft quantities,
and make great returns of profit to the owner.

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 6y

Thus having diredlcd fuch a culture for the Chefnut, as,
judicloufly pra(5lifed, will afluredly produce abundant crops of
large well-flavoured frviit, much fooner than the tree abandoned
to nature would have done, I Ihall proceed to thofe intended
for timber and copfe-wood, the propagation of which will be
attended with little trouble or expence.

Let the field intended for this plantation, which requires
not being either warm or rich, be fallowed the preceding fum-
mer, and get two or three good deep plowings in winter, to
fweeten and pvilverife the foil, and to deftroy all root-weeds.
Having procured and tried your feeds, as formerly mentioned for
the fruit-bearing trees, make drills acrofs the ground with a
hoe, four feet diftance, and put in your nuts, with the point or
eye upwards, at fourteen or fixteen inches afunder, filling up
the drills, and raking the furface fmooth ; and for this, and the
following year, you may take a line of Beans between the drills,
which, having their tops cut off, and being kept clean, will be a
protection to the young plants, and encourage their growth. At
the end of two years, early in the fpring as has been- faid, re-
move every fecond plant in the rows, which will leave them a-
bout two feet and a half afunder, and at this dillance let them
remain three years.. Widi the plants taken up as above, I mean
the two years old, you may make any plantation required.

At the end of tlie three years, remove by the roots, fo as
not to hurt the plants that are to continue, every fecond row of
trees, and every fecond tree in tlie remaining row, vrluch will
leave them at the dillance of eight feet by five. The plants
now raifed will have carroty roots, and few fibres ; io arc not
worth planting again, but will be ufeful for flakes and poles.

70 TREATISE on

Left, by rooting out the unneceffary trees, any of thofe that
are to remain fhould be loefened, or their roots hurt, let
the holes be filled up Immediately, the ground well dug, any
kitchen-crop taken, and the trees remain untouched another
year ; Avhen, in February, cut them over, referving only one of
the flraighteft and moft vigorous, at the diftance of twenty-five
to thirty feet : You may Hill continue to work the ground, and
take dwarfs crops between the rows for two years more ;
after which, they will foon cover it, and m\ift be left to na-
ture. One will readily obferve, that when any of the feeds have
failed at die due diftances here prefcribed, thefe defeds
are to be fupplied by the beft plants, taken up at two years
old.

Thus you have a plantation, the copfe-wood of which only
will, in feven years more, that is, fifteen years from the feed,
produce more than double the rent and labour, and, every
feven or eight years, will confiderably increafe for forty or fifty
to come, when you have a foreft of noble timber-trees, that of
themfelves will be worth more than the value of the land at
the higheft purchafe-price. The timber-trees here will likewife
produce fruit, but neither in fuch abundance, or of fo good a
quality, as thofe that have been tranfplanted ftanding at due
diftances, and where the ground has been properly cultivated ;
for tranfplanting promotes fru6lification, as, fx-om the roots
fpreading near the furface, the juices are better prepared and
digefted by the fun and air, and, of courfe, their fruits better
matured, and higher flavoured, than thofe can be whofe roots
run deep into the cold, fluggifli, and imprcpared earth, from
v^hence they muft neceflarily imbibe great quantities of crude

FOREST-TREES. 71

and unwholefome juices, which will naturally be ccmmxinicated
to the fruit.

Th e ftrip'd Chefnut is amongft the mod beautiful of all the
variegated trees, and, when mixed with other flrip'd plants, has
a mofl agreeable and chearful effed:, the blotches being of a
rich fhining gold colour, flrongly mark'd. This is ufually pro-
pagated by budding, or inarching it on the plain fort, though I
have raifed many of them by common grafting.

The Chinquapin, or dwarf kind, abou.nds in the woods of
America, where it produces abundance of nuts, which may ea-
fily be brought here with fafety, by mixing them with dry fand,
and which all the nut kinds from far diftant countries ought
to be, though, by not adverting to this fimple and eafy prefer-
vative, we generally loofe the greateft part of them. It grows
in its native foil to about fourteen or fixteen feet high, and is
hardy enough to- bear our- fevereft winters. This may be pro-
pagated by its feeds as the common Chefnut, or, when thefe
cannot be procured, by inarching on it, which will increafe its.
magnitude..

Th k fruit of the Chefnut tree is not only ufcd for many ele-
gant dilhes in France and Italy, but is found flrong and health-
ful food for labouring peoplcj either made in,to breatl, or prepa-
red as they do in various ways abroad; For all wJiich purpofes,
we might in a few years have abundance of them, as well as
for feeding our hogs, which would highly improve both, the
tafte and quality of our bacon, and render it as good as from
Virginia, or any other country we know : It v.oukl alfo much
reduce its price, and bring it within the reach of labcv.ring men*

y2 TREATISE ON

The leaves of this tree make excellent litter for cattle, which,
AYhen mixed with their dung, (particularly that of cows well
i-otted), is an admirable manure for many kinds of flowers,
<Treen-houfe, hot-houfe, and other delicate plants.

Th e befl ground for finiit-bearlng Chefnuts, is a loofe moid
(though not wet) gravel or fand: They will Hkewife fucceed in
any ordinary mixt foil, which, if it abound with finall round
flones, fliould not be taken away, as, from their warmth, they
will cherilh and forward the ripening of the fmit.

For plantations of timber-trees, and copfe-wood, you can
•hardly go amifs, fo there be depth of foil, and no (lauding wa-
ter ; they will grow on obftinate clay, and the bleakelt declivi-
ties of hills, this tree, where fruit is not aimed at, being more
patient of cold than hekt.

Th e wood is ufeful for many elTential purpofes : It makes
fl-ood tables, chairs, and bed-iteads ; is the mofl lafling poles
of any put in the ground witli the rind on, for efpaliers, pali-
fade hedges, dead fences, vine and hop yards, and for pipes
to convey water under ground : It will laft longer than Elm, or
even Oak itfelf. In Italy, the beft cafks for wine and other
liquors are made of tlds wood, which has the fmgular proper-
ty, when thoroughly feafoned, of maintaining its bulk, without
fhrinking or fwelling, which mod other timber does ; and formerly
was built of it, great part of the antient city of London, near
which were large forefts of Chefnut trees, which, whether or
not a native of this illand, is not well determined.

FOREST-TREES. 73

Chapter XI.
The HORSE-CHESNUT TPvEE.

The Species are :

1. The common Horse-Chesnut.

2. The yellow blotched Horse-Chesnut.

3. The white blotched Horse-Chesnut.

4. The fcarlet flowering Horse-Chesnut.

THE firfl mentioned fort, though a native of Conflantinople,
defies the greateft feverity of our winters, and foon be-
comes a large tree. The nuts of it may be fown as directed for
the Sweet Chefnut, and, like it, flaould only remain one year
in the feed-bed.

In February, or early in March following, having reduced
their top-roots, plant them in lines, three feet afunder, and at
fifteen inches diflance in tlie line, where let them remain three
years.

To make them a proper fize for avenues, or clumps in parks,
and lawns, remove them to another quarter ; drefs the roots
properly, and prune fome of the under branches, with any others
that are crofs, too thick, or ill-placed ; but beware of the large
bud at the extremity of the leading branch, in which is inclofed

74

TREATISE OK

tlie flioot ill embryo for the fuccecding fcafon : Plant tliem m
lines, fix feet afunder, and two and a half feet in the line. In
this fituation they may continue tliree, but not above four years,,
when, in an ordinary foil, the plants will be from twelve to

TiJ E fecond and third forts may be propagated by budding
them on the common' kind, on which th'cy take freely.

Th e fcarlet-flowering Horfe-Chefnut is a beavitiful plant, and
produces a very rich and elegant flower. It is a native of Ame-
rica, but is hardy enough to bear our climate, in ordinary fitua-
tions, when four or five years old, though it is fomewhat more
delicate than the common in infancy : Therefore, having procu-
red their nvits, (which you may eafily do from Sovith Carolina,
where they grow abundantly) fow them as diretTted for the com-
mon kind, but in a warm flieltered fituation, and in a rich loofe
fweet mould ; and remove tlijem the fucceeding fpring to a fiuia-
tion and foil of the faine quality, where they may remain three
years, when they will have acquired flrength enough to put up
with common ufage. This tree, in America, grows to the height
of thirty feet, but I have not {cen any in Britain of near that
fize, and I doubt it will never arrive at that flature with us ;
notwithftanding which, it is well worth our cultivation, and
has a fine efle<5l in the wildernefs, planted with trees of the fame
growth.

This may alfo be budded or inarched on the common kind,.
But they will neither make fo handlbme plants, nor ever grow to
near the fize of thofe raifed from feeds..

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 75

The Horfe-Chefnut is a tree of fingular beauty when in
bloom ; and die common fort of it, which will fucceed in almoft
all foils, (tho' beft in that which is deep) is proper enough to in-
termix in ornamental plantations, in a fheltered country ; but
in bleak and expofed fituations, it is idle to plant them, as, from
the wood being very brittle, every impetuous wind will break
and disfigure more or lefs of them,

Th e fruit is fo extremely bitter, that even hogs will not eat it,
though the Turks mix it with other food for their horfes that
have coughs, or are broken-winded, for which it is faid to be
an excellent remedy.

The timber, except for fuel, anfwers no valuable purpofe I
know, further than I have heard from a gentleman of much
knowledge and obfervation on the equalities of wood, that it is
very proper for pipes, to convey water under ground, and, in
that fituation, will laft longer than many harder woods.

K 2

76 TREATISE on

C II A p T E n XII.

The L a R I X, or LARCH T R E E.

T'^ H E Larch tree is propagated from feeds ; but the proper
way to procure thefe feeds good, is not generally known,
.at lead I am certain it is very rarely attended to. The common
method is, to gather their cones in the autumn ; and having
half-roafted them in a kiln, a ftove, or on a hearth before the
hre; then fplitting the cones, and picking out the feeds with a
knife or other fharp inftrument, they with difficulty get part of
them, though, by this pradlce, many of the plumpeit and bell
ripened feeds are bruifed. I proceeded in this way myfelf for
feveral years, without fuccefs fuitable to the labour and ex-
pence. I fowed the feeds, with attention, in diflerent foils and
fituations, and repeated a variety of experiments, but ftill had
thin crops in proportion to the quantity of feeds, till at lall: I
difcovered my error: I fhall therefore, from experience, direcT:
a method, by obferving which, thefe feeds may be procured as
good, and the plants be raifed in the fame abundance, and with
the fame eafe, as the common kinds of Fir and Pine.

I FOUND, that tho' the cones of the Larch tree are at their full
fize in autumn, the greateft part of the feeds they contain are not
then arrived near their maturity, and that they ripen hanging on
the trees during even the coldefl winter months. Thefe i'ecds are
inclofed in fo hard and thick a covering, that the fevcrcR fcafons

FOREST-TREES.

7

cannot affecfl them ; therefore I deferred gathering the cones till
the months of March or April, when they eafily part with the
tree, and many of them drop from it, which are ftill better than
thofe plucked. The cones thns procured, fully ripe, Ihould be
fpread in a dry covered place, till the weather become warm, in
May or June, when they ought to be expofed on glafs-cafcs at
the bottom of windows fronting the fouth, or any other way
moil convenient, fo as to receive the warmeft influences of the
fun : This muft be repeated (taking them into a warm place
every evening before the dews fall) for feveral weeks, when the
cones will open, and many of the beft feeds come out, by fnaking
them in a wire fieve ; but as all of them will not, therefore fplic
the cones afunder, by driving a fmall piece of Iharp iron through
the center, from the bottom to the top of them : Let thefe be a-
gain expofed to the fun for a few days, when many more, feeds
will fhake out, and all that is good of them feparate from the
hufk, or be eafily pick'd off with the point of a knife.

Tk o' the feeds of thefe trees in the cone are good for four or
five years, yet, when diverted of that, they lofe their growing
quality in a few months ; therefore, as foon as they are got out,
let them be mixed with fine dry fand, and preferved in bags till
the feafon of fowing.

In the beginning of March, or as foon after as the vv^eather will
permit, having prepared a fliady border, expofed only to the mor-
ning fun, of loofe, mellow, rich ground, fow your feeds very thin
in beds three and a half feet broad, with alleys of eighteen inches ;
clap the feeds gently into the bed with the back of a fpade, {o
as, by making it fniocth and level, it may receive an equal cover-

^8 TREATISE on

ing, and lift over them not more than a quarter of an uich of
fine compofl earth, mixed with one-fourth part of fea-fand, or,
failing that, the fineft pit-fand you can procure. If the weather is
dry, and not frofty, in a fortnight after fowing, give them gentle
waterings in the evening of every fourth or fifth day, and in
fix weeks they will begin to appear above ground. As thefe
plants come up with the feeds on their top, which the birds are
very fond of, care muft be taken to guard them from thofe ene-
mies, who will otherways deftroyall or moft of them, but which
may eafily be prevented, by driving a few fork'd flakes round the
beds, and throwing a net or other thin covering over them. The
plants being fairly above ground, muft now be refrellied with a lit-
tle water every fecond or third night, for three weeks, when it does
not rain ; But this mufl be given with care, and as lightly as pof-
ble, with a watering-pot that has fmall holes in the rofe of it ;
for thefe plants, tho' afterwards amonglt the hardiefl trees, are,
in their infant Hate, very delicate ; and heedlefsly dalhing on the
water from a coarfe watering-pot, would deftroy great numbers
of them. The waterings, as direded after the feeds appear, mufl
be continued, tho' only once in ten or twelve days, increafing
the quantity when the weather is hotter than ufual, till the
end of Augufl.

The weeds, at their firfl appearance, miift be carefully pick'd
out, as otherways, in a few days, it will be impolTiblc to do it
without bringing many of the plants alongfl with them.

"'''Ir may probably be objccfled, by fuch as make no diflincllon
in'the quality of plants, that I have direded unneceflary trouble
andexpence in the culture of this hardy tree, which is now

F O R E S T . T R E E S. 79

raifcd in fuch abundance with lefs ceremony : To which I fliall
only anfwer, that, in point of expence, this method is much the
cheapeft, as one pound of feed will produce more than ten pounds
in the common wafteful way it is treated ; and, what is yet of
much higher importance, ane thoufand plants, thus cultivated,
are of more real value than ten thoufand, fuch as are ufually pro-
cured from ignorant nurferymen.

The end of March, or beginning of April following, thefc
plants may be removed from the feed-bed to the nurfery ; and
their roots being ihortened, laid in rows, about fifteen inches di-
ftant, and fix or feven inches afunder in the row, watering them
at planting, which may be continued once a week, in dry wea-
ther, for five or fix weeks, when they will be pad danger ; and
here they ought only to continue one feafon.

At the fame time the fucceeding year, i-emove them to another
nurfery, but now be fparing of their roots, taking away only
fuch as . crofs each other, with fome of the ftraggling hairy fibres,
and fmoothing the extremity of the long ones ; plant them in
rows, at three feet diftance, and fifteen or fixteen inches in the
row ; water them when planted, keep them clear of weeds du-
ring the fummer, dig the ground between the rows in autumn
and fpring, and, in this fituation, let them remain two years.

By this time, in an ordinary foil, the trees will be from five to
fix feet high, and of a proper fize to tranfplant in large quan-
tities, and, in expofcd fituations, on meagre hungry ground ; but
where beauty and flaelter are immediately required in plantations
near the houfe, provifion ought to be made of larger plants :.

So TREATISE on

Therefore, for this, or fimilar pnrpofes, let luch a quantity of
thefc trees as may probably be wanted, be removed to another
nurfery, and planted at the diflance of eight feet by fix, flill be-
ing fparing of the roots, which do not, like many other Forefl-
trees, admit of being nrach reduced or wounded ; particularly,
when large, let them be plentifully watered at removal, dig the
ground about them as formerly mentioned, and here let them
remain three years.

very proper fize to remove for ornament, fhade, and flicker, where
meant to remain for good, which laiay be accompliihcd without
any great labour or expence. The plants, thus far advanced,
faould be removed earlier in the fpring than has been direded
for the youger ones, which, in ordinary temperate feafons, may
be befl performed about the end of February, or early in March.
At this time raife them carefully, without injuring any of the
principal roots, and only fmooth the extremities of the fmall ones
with a fliarp knife, letting as much of the earth as poffible ad-
here to them ; pour in a large watering pot-ful of water into
the pit before the tree is placed in it, another after the roots are
half covered, and a third after all the earth is properly gathered
about it. If the feafon is moift, thefe plants will require no far-
ther trouble ; but in cafe of long-continued hot and dry weather,
they ought to be watered once a fortnight in thin dry foil, or
every thii'd week where it is deep and found, and this repeated
two, three, or four times, more or lefs as the weather requires
it ; but, in giving them water, do not pour it clofe on the
trunk of the tree, but make a drill round it with the hoe, about
a foot from it, into which pour the water gently, and draw the
earth again over it when the water has foked in.

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 8i

Most of the Larcli trees we fee, thofe excepted that are fliel-
tered by higher plantations, dechne much from the fouth-weft
winds ; the great caufe of which is, not confulting their genius,
but tmfldlfully pruning them. This plant, eftablilhed in a foil it
likes, (nor indeed is it nice in its choice) will make prodigious
{hoots ; thefe fhoots are extremely heavy and flexible when
young, which being the cafe, when any number of the fide-
branches are cvit away, the length of the leading flioot is increa-
fed, the body becomes flender, and the tree naturally bends vvith
its own weight, and grows obliquely ; nor in the Larch tree is
this to be redreifed by any art, as nothing but reducing the
height in any tree can affedl a cure, and which, tho' to many h
an improvement, yet to this is certain de(lru(5lion : I there-
fore, from experience, advife, that not a iingle branch be taken
from this tree, except fuch as by accident may have been broken
or brviifed, till they are fifteen or fixteen feet high ; nor v>-ould I
chufe any pruning at all, were it not to clear the furface of the
grovmd, fo as to admit the rays of the fun, to diffipate noxious va-
pours : But as this may fometimes be necelTary, when they have
arrived at the height mentioned, the lowefl tire of branches may
then be cut off clofe and fmooth about the middle of Odlober, the
following year a fecond tire, and the fucceeding a third. This
will be clearing the trunk to about four or five feet high, higher
than which they fliould never be pruned, to make them well pro-
portioned flraight trees, capable of refilling the v.'iads, which,
with this culture, they effedually will ; befides, as they natu-
rally grow in a regular pyramidal form, their greateft beauty is
loft when divefted of their branches.

This is a noble and valuable plant ; the bright red bloffbms it
produces in the fpring, are both beautiful and fragrant, and the
L

82 TREATISE on

proper culture of it claims our particular attention, for many
reafons. It is a native of the Alpine and Pyrenean mountains,
and loves an elevated fituation : It will become a flately tree in
the poorcfl hungry fand and gravel, and on the higheft and
bleakcfl hills, where there is but a few inches of foil ; in fhort, it
rejects no quality of earth that is dry, but in wet lands it will
not fucceed.

Th e many encomiums bellowed both by antient and modern
authors on the virtues of this tree, and the great value of its
timber, would take up many pages, and exceed the bounds al-
lotted for this work : I iliall therefore only enumerate a few of
the bed attefted circvmiflances, but which may be fufficient to
recommend it to all judicious planters and others, lovers of their
country.

From the wounded bark of this tree, exudes the purcll Venice
turpentine ; and on the body and branches, grows the Agaric, a
drug ufcd in medicine. The fiimous archite^, Scamozie, built
many of the moft fuperb palaces in Venice of it, and highly
commends it ; and Vitruvius laments that they had not enough
of it in Rome for joills, and other parts that require both
flrength and beauty in houfes, as well as from its property of
long refilling fire. The Fonim of Auguftus was built of this
material, as were fundry magnificent bridges by Tiberius. Polls
of it driven into the ground become almoll as hard as iron, and
will bear an incredible weight. It bears the fmootheft polilli-
ing, and is fo exceedingly tranfparent, that rooms wainfcotted
with it, will make people at a diftance, when candles are light-
ed, imagine the whole room on fire. Nor wa^ it \iicd for thcfe

FOREST-TREES. 33

purpofes only, but in biulding of fliips alfo ; and Witfen, a
Dutch writer on naval architedlure, mentions a iliip, thirty-
feet in length, to have been found not long lince in the Numi-
dian fea, twelve fathoms under water, chiefly built of this tim-
ber, and Cyprefs, both reduced to that hardnefs as to refift the
fliarpeft tools ; nor was any part perifhed, though it had lain
fourteen hundred years fubmerged. It makes the beft palats
for painters to feparate their colovirs on ; and it was on boards
of the Larch, that Raphael, and the mod famous artifls of that
time, eternized their fkill, before the ufe of canvas was intro-
duced.

Is it not amazing, then, that thoufands who have it in their
power, will not be at a moderate expence in planting a parcel
of fmall twigs of this plant, on barren heaths, or cold and rug-
ged hills, which, in a few years, would not only adorn, and, by
the warmth they would afford, really improve the adjacent
country, but, in lefs than an age, inrich their families ?

L 2

84 TREATISE on

Chapter XIII.
The Virginian TULIP TREE.

'"T^ HIS tree is common in Virginia, and is to be found in
-^ mod of the northern continent of America, from whence
llie cones are annually brought in abimdance to Britain.

Authors direcfl thefe feeds to be fown in pots, and placed
on a hot-bed ; and when the plants are a year old, each to be
planted in feparate fmall pots, and again plunged into another
hot-bed ; after which, they are ftill to be kept in pots, and un-
der frames in winter, for three or four years longer, till they
have acquired ftrength. This method I followed in my early
pra(5lice, and no doubt it will both raife and preferve them alive
for that time : But there is no occafion for treating this tree with
fo much delicacy, even in infancy : I fliall therefore direcl an
eafier and cheaper way of cultivating it, founded on experience,
which, in an ordinary foil, and flieltered fituation, will make
much ftronger and hardier plants, and by that means fooner
prepare them for removal to the places where they are meant to
remain for good.

The beginning of March, prepare a bed of good mellow rich
earth, well mixt with old rotted cow-dung, expofed to the fun,
and fheltcred from cold winds ; place an old frame over the
bed, and fow your feeds, fifting over them, about half an inch

FOREST-TREES. 85

thick, a foil compofed fome months at leafh before, of one load
of old pafture-earth, one of well-rotted cow-dung, and half a
load of fea or fine pit-fand. Some of thefe feeds will probably
make their appearance in nine or ten weeks, bvit much the great-
er part of them will lye in the ground till next fpring ; I would
therefore advife giving the beds no more water than barely fuffi-
cient to cherilli the plants that have appeared, which, for four
or five weeks after, Ihould be fcreen'd from the fun during the
heat of the day, but which afterwards fliould receive its full in-
fluence.

These circumftances being obferved, no further care is ne^
cefl'ary this year, but clearing the ground of weeds as foon as
they appear ; and in winter, in violent lafting ftorms, throw
double mats over the frame, which muft be regixlarly taken off
on the weather's growing mild, .

In March, the fvicceeding year, carefully pick off with your
fingers all moffy, hard, and crufted earth, from the bed; fmooth
it again, and fift on a quantity proportioned to that taken a-
way, of the fame kind of mould as formerly ; and about the end
of April, or beginning of May, if your feeds have been good,
the plants will appear in abundance, when they muft be fre-
quently but gently refrellied with water, lightly given as di-
rected for the Larch. From this time, till the beginning of
Auguft,. they ought to be fcreened from the mid-day fun ; but
this. I would not do by covering the bed with mats, as is com-
monly pradifed, which draws the plants, and renders them ten-
der ; but rather do it with part of an old reed fence, or, for
want of that, a.nd which indeed is fliil better, nail fome thin

86 TREATISE on

boards together, the length of the frame, high enough to fliade
the furface of the bed from the meridian fun. By thus flaading
the plants, and letting them enjoy all the open air, though they
will not grow fo tall, yet will they be thicker bodied, and more
hardy. When this has been performed, no further care is ne-
cellary in this fituation, but frequent moderate waterings in an
evening, and throwing a mat over the frame during any fevere
v^inter-ftorm.

About the beginning of April, next feafon, (for this tree is
late in expanding its leaves), prepare a fpot of ground, in the
fame manner, and of the fame quality with that directed for the
feeds ; raife the plants carefully with a trowel, without bruifing
their roots, -which are foft and fpungy ; and if they cannot be
immediately planted, mix a pale-ful of fifted mould and water
to the coniiflence of pap, through which draw the plants one by
one, till as much adhere as cover their roots and fibres. This
will prevent their drying, and in this condition they may fafely
be tranfported to a confiderable diftance, and kept feveral days
out of the ground. The roots of this tree do not admit of be-
iup- much reduced ; therefore, at this time, cut only a little of the
top-root fmoothly off, but let all the fibres remain, and then,
ftill in a flickered fituation, plant them in drills cut out with
tire fpade, at a foot diflance line from line, and fix inches in the
line. Plant five of thefe lines, which will make a bed four feet
wide ; and if you have more beds than one, leave an alley three
feet wide between them ; let them be frequently (and more plen-
tifully than formerly) watered in the evenings, during the fum-
mer months ; after which, keeping them clear of weeds, throw-
ing a mat over them, in cafe of very fevere fro ft, for the firfl

FOREST-TREES. 87

winter, and loofening the ground between the beds in fpring,
they will require no further attention in this plantation, where
they fliould remain only two years.

From thefe beds the plants may be removed to another ntir-
fery of any good mellow deep foil : Be ftill fparing of their roots,
and plant them in rows, three feet and a half diftance, and .
eighteen inches afunder in the row ; keep the grovmd clean and
mellow by labour, as has been diredled, giving them plentiful
waterings in dry weather, during the firfl fum.mer, and let them
continue here three years.

The culture dire«fled having been obferved, thefe trees v/ill
now be hardy enough to defy the affaults of ovir fevereft win-
ters, and, being about fix or feven feet high, will be of a good
fize for planting where they are defigned to remain. In a
generous deep foil, interfperfed with other trees, but not crowded
too near them, tliey will in a few years arrive at a great magni-
tude ; but in thin and hungry land, they make fniall progrefs,
tliough they will flower fooner.

In America, they often grow on moifl fwampy ground ; and
in fuch. I have planted them here, but without fuccefs, owing,
I fuppofe, to our long wet winters rotting their tender roots
and fibres.

They do not, like many other Forefl-trecs, admit of bcinn-
planted to advantage at a great fize, but they might undergo an-
other remove more than has been here mentioned, to the height
of ten or twelve feet, which I have done with great facccfs.

88 TREATISE o^

I know of no tree, that pruning cither roots or branches has
worfe effedls on than this, which often kills, or other^^ays irre-
coverably flunts them, as I have often found by fad experience ;
therefore the plants fliould be reduced to the form yoti defire, in
the n^irfery, by rubbing off all ill-placed buds, or, with your
finger and thumb, pinching away the improper branches foon
after their appearance, while young and tender, more than
which pruning they ought never to have.

This is a plant of extraordinary beauty and ftatelinefs, and
highly deferves a place in all noble and elegant plantations.
There is a tree of it in the gardens of the Earl of Peterborough,
at Parfons-green, near London, which I faw in full bloom for
feveral years fucceffively: It is above fifty feet high, and the
trunk in proportion, and would have been much larger, but tha;t
having been planted in a wildernefs quarter, it was long negledl-
ed, and injured by its branches being overhung, and the roots
intangled with other trees, which prevented its receiving due
nourilhment. Mr Catefby, in his Natural Hiftory of Carolina,
mentions trees of it in America, thirty feet circumference in the
trunk, and the timber is highly valued by the Americans for its
ftrength and duration.

F O Pv E S T - T R E E S. 89

Chapter XIV.
The acacia TREE.

The Species are:

1. The common or Virginian Acacia.

2. The American Acacia, with triple thorns, commonly

called the Locust Tree in the Weft-Indies,

3. The Water Acacia, from Carolina.

HERE are above thirty different fpecies of this plant, that
have been brought from Africa and America, but mod
of them are tender, and require the protection of the green-
houfe or ftove, and are foreign to a Treatife on Foreft-trees for
this climate ; therefore I have only mentioned three kinds, which
are hardy enough to bear our fevei'eft winters, and become large
trees.

The firft fort is propagated by fowing its feeds the beginning
of March, on a bed of well-prepared mellow foil, fliaded from
the mid-day fun, which, in five or fix weeks, v/ill appear above
ground, when they muft be frequently watered in the evenings,
during the hot and dry weather, and the weeds deftroyed at
their firft appearance.

About the beginning of April the following fpring, remove
them from the feed-bed to the nurfery, be fparing of tlicir roots,

M

90 TREATISEoN

and plant them in lines, two feet diftant, and a foot afunder in
the line, watering them at planting, and three or four times
foon after if the weather is dry, when they will require no fiu-
ther trouble than keeping the ground clean, and digging it be-
tween the lines in the fpring of the two following feafons, being,
to remain here two years.

From this nurfcry tliey may be tranfplanted to where they
are meant to remain for good ; but if defired larger, they may
undergo one other remove, and be planted in lines, three feet
and a half diftant, and eighteen inches in the line, treating
them as formerly : But here they muft continue only two years ;
for as thefe plants do not naturally produce fpreading roots,
and not agreeing either with thefe, or the branches being much
cut, but rather that they fhould grow in a ragged diforderly
manner, with heavy tops, they do not properly admit of being
planted when large.

Th e fecond and third forts, though they will alfo rife in the
open ground, are yet fomewhat lliyer, and will appear fooner,
and make better Ihoots, being aflifted with a very moderate hot-
bed, on which they may be fown the middle of February. When
the feeds appear, give them very gentle but frequent waterings,
and let the frames be raifed all the day-time, that the plants
may have plenty of air ; fcreen them from the mid-day fun till
about the beginning of Auguft, when the frames may be remo-
ved till the winter's froft fet in, and when they fliould be again
replaced, but the glaiTes always drawn off in mild weather.

Th e fucceeding fpring, in tlie beginning of April, remove
rhefe plants, and treat them as has been direded for the Tulip-

FOREST-TREES,

9«

tree ; witli this difference only, that if you chvife to remove them
twice, they ought only to remain two years after the fecond
tranfplantation.

All the kinds of Acacias are much improved in their form,
by thrufling flraight flakes into the ground befide them, to which
the leading fhoot fhould be loofely tied with bafs.

The firfl-mentioned fort of thefe trees was formerly much
\ifed in England for planting avenues, but for which purpofe
I know few plants more improper, as no art can reduce it to a
uniform figure ; and the branches of it are fo hard and brittle,
that numbers of them are broken every violent wind, from
whence they have a ragged and difagreeable appearance : All the
kinds of them, therefore, ought to be planted in the wildernefs,
or under the proteftion of fomc other plantation, where, by
growing in concert with othei' trees, they will efcape that mif-
fortune, and where their negligent wildnefs of growth, and
large bunches of fweet-fmelling aromatic flowers in fummer,
have a pleafing effed, and intitle them to a place in all orna-
mental plantations.

They delight mofl in a deep feeding moift foil.

M 2

92 TREATISE on

Chapter XV.
The wild CHERRY TREE;

In England, commonly called the Black Cherry;
In Scotland, the G e e n Tree.

The Species arc :

, I. The common Black Geen.

2. The common Red Geen.

3. The large Hungarian Geen,

4. The Geen Tree, with very fmall flones, and large

black frvilt.

'TpHOUGH this plant is not ufually clafTed in catalogues of
Foreft- trees, yet its (lately fize, fine form, beautiful and
fragrant bloIFoms, the various ufes of the fruit, and value of the
timber, certainly intitle it to our attention, and place it in no
mean rank, either for ornamental or tifeful plantations.

It is propagated from the flones of their fruit, which fliould
not be gathered till perfedlly ripe, and beginning to decay,
when they mufl be divefted of the flelliy part ; and in four or five
days after, v;hen the humidity is gone, mix them in fand, pro-
tecled from moifture, till the kernels are fii-m and dry, which
will be in about a month ; when, having prepared a fpot of
frefli mellow light foil, low them in beds of three and a half
feet broad, with alleys of eighteen inches between them. If the
following winter is fevere, and the frofl ftrong and lafling, during
that period throw fome Peafe-haulm, or other light covering over
them, to be regularly taken oiT on tlie weather's becoming mikL

FOREST-TREES. 93

In open winters no extraordinary protcdion is neceilary ; but after
violent and long continued ftorms, I have difcovered many of the
ftones fplit afunder,and the kernels thus deprived of their covering,
generally decay, particularly if the frofls happen early in winter.
About the beginning of April, the plants will begin to ap-
pear above ground, when, in dry weather, frequently watering
them in the evenings for about two months, will much increafe
their growth.

Th e following February, remove thefe plants from their feed-
bed to the nurfery, in any tolerable foil not wet or ftifF; aiul
having reduced . the top-roots, plant them in lines, two feet
diftant, and nine or ten inches afunder in the line ; give them
two or tliree waterings in April and May, in dry weather ; dip-
the ground between the lines in autumn and fpring, and let
them remain two feafons.

From this remove them to another nurfery in Ocl&bcr, flill
reducing the top-roots, fmoothing the extremities of the fpread-
ing ones, and cutting offfuch as crofs each other, with a few of
the und'jrmofl branches, or any others that are ill-placed ; plant
them in lines, four feet diftant, and eighteen inches afunder in
the line ; dig the ground as formerly, and let them ftand here
only two years longer, if intended foon to bear fruit ; but, as fo-
reft-trees, without that confider-atlon, they may remain three years.

These trees will now be from eight to ten feet high, and of
a proper fize for planting in woods and vcildernefs work ; but for
groves, avenues, or clumps in lawns or parks, for which pur-
pofes few trees are more proper, they may again be removed, two
or three repeated times, planting them at greater diflanccs pro-

94 TREATISE on

portioned to tlieir fize as has been dircdled for the Elm, till they
?.re above danger from cattle, without protedlion, this tree being
very patient of tranfplantation when large ; only they ought not
to continue above three years from each removal, for thefe pur-

pofcs.

EuT with refpea to thofe principally intended for bearing
fruit, a little more trouble is necellary ; for though, by fowing
the largcll, bell ripened, and finefl flavoured Cherries, fome
of the trees, in a favourable foil, will produce fruit as good
as their original, yet this is by no means an invariable cafe ; for
moft kinds of fruit-trees degenerate extremely raifed that way,
and though this does fo in a lefs degree than many of the other
forts, yet in fome degree it will : Therefore, the only way of
certainly procuring, and even improving the beft kinds, is by
p-rafting, or rather budding them, which is a preferable opera-
tion for all ftone-fruit, on frefli healthful flocks raifed from the
linefl fruits, of three or four years old, which, being eafdy per-
formed, ought not to be grudged, to have fo certain and valuable
a return.

A YEAR after budding, thefe trees may be removed to another
nurfery, to ftand two years longer before planting out for good,
Hill abating the downright roots, but encouraging thofe thatfpread
near the furface as much as poflible ; and here all too luxuriant
and fuperfluous branches may be taken away, and the plant redu-
ced to the form it ought to remain in : From which pradice, in
two years more, it will be covered with bloflbms, and loaded
with fruit. But in this place it will be neceffary to obferve,
and caution againfl a general error committed in the manage-
ment of this and many other fruit-bearing trees, which is,

FOREST-TREES. 95

pruning them to a confiderable height with naked bodies. This
impairs the beauty of the plant, as well as the qixantity and
quality of the fruit, by exhaiiffcing the fap that lliould feed it ;
for the trunk will be foonefl and befl fed, and, therefore, the
nearer the branches are to the ground, they will the fooner, and
in greater abundance, receive their proper nourillimcnt.

Though I have mentioned priming this tree, yet I muft ad-
vife it to be done as fparingly as pollible, and only while the
branches are yotmg and tender, as lopping the old wood com-
monly occafions a gvim and canker, that ftunts and at lad dc-
flroys the whole plant : But a little care and attention from the
beginning may eafily remedy this, by rubbing off the young
buds where improperly placed ; and this pradlice will longer
preferve them in (Irength and vigour.

Th e Black Cherry, for improving both the fize and flavour of
its fruit, fhould be planted in a frefh, mellow, dry fandy loam,
for timber ; it will grow to a large fize in mofl drv foils, tho'
poor and thin; but in wet ground, or jftlffclay, it will not fuc-
ceed to advantage. It is one of our hardieil trees, of quick
growth, and, its many good qualities confidered, I have often been
amazed that great numbers of them have not been planted uni-
verfally in all cxtenfive defigns.

Th e wood is hard, ponderous, and durable ; it poliflies ver}-
fmooth, and is ufed by the joiner for cabinets, chairs, and
many ufeful purpofcs.

To the Black Cherry, being of the fame genus, I fliall add

<j6 TREATISE on

The bird CHERRY, in Scotland called the Hacberry,

T H O', in catalogues, this is placed in the third or lowed
growing clafs of trees, that is, from fifteen to thirty feet high,
yet I have izen it above forty, and have raifed many of them
myfelf above thirty feet, at fixtecn years old. It is a plant of
exti'aordiiii-ry beauty when in bloom, the bloiToms being fo
thick as to cover the leaves, when the whole tree is as white as
fnow, and has an admirable eifecl amongft other flowering
plants.

It grows freely from ciittings, which ought to be planted in
February, in a fliady border, in drills cut down with the fpade,
about eight inches deep, and two buds of the cutting left above
groiind ; let the lines be two feet diftant, and the plants nine or
ten inches in the line ; where, keeping them clear of weeds, and
digging the ground between them, they may continue two
years.

After that time, remove them to another fpot, cutting away
the fuperfluous I'oots and branches, and plant them in lines, three
a id a half feet diftant, and eighteen inches afundcr in the line ;
ckan and dig the ground as before, and let them remain two or
three years longer, when they will be of proper fize to plant
where they are to remain.

This plant is extremely hardy, and will grow in almofl any
foil, but chiefly aflecfts a deep, moift, feeding mould, where it will
make great advances fuddenly. The wood of it is ufeful for
many diflcrent purpofcs in hufl:»andry.

FOREST-TREES. 97

Chapter XVI.
The poplar TREE.

The Species are :

1. The white Poplar.

2. The black Poplar.

3. The trembling Poplar, or Aspin.

4. The Abele.

5. The white Poplar, with ftrip'd leaves^

6. The Lombardy Poplar.

7. The Carolina black Poplar.

8. The Balfam Poplar from Canada.

.9. The berry-bearing Poplar from Canada.

I -SHALL begin with the four kinds of this tree firfh mentioned,
that have long been commonly known to us, and then pro-
ceed to the others that have but lately been introdviced to this
country.

Th e firfl:, fecond, and third forts, are with the greateft eafe
propagated by cuttings, planted in February or March ; and tho'
the fourth will likewife grow in that way on moift ground, yet
it more readily fucceeds by fuckers taken from the roots of old
trees, of which every one produces great numbers. Thefe cut-
tings or fuckers being planted in the nurfery, in lines, two and
N

9S TREATISE on

a half feet cliflant, a foot in the line, and eight or ten inches
deep, -vvill, in two years, be flrong plants, and fit to remove
wiiere they are defigned to remain : But to be more expeditious,
where flielter and fliade are immediately required, procure
truncheons or ftraight poles of them, eight or ten feet high ;
make a hole with a hard fharp Rake, from eighteen inches to
two feet deep, as the pole is longer or fhorter ; and in this place it,
filling tlie hole full of water, and prcffing in fome fmall mould
firmly about it, to keep the plant fleady. From this cheap and
fimple practice thefe will grow freely, and in a few years be-
come large trees ; and thus their culture being fo very eafy, it is
unneceffary to fay more on it.

Of all the trees our climate produces, I know none fo great
and general advantages might be derived from, as planting Pop-
lars in the cold, wet, and uncultivated places of the country ;
they will grow luxuriantly in the poorefl wet bogs, in the hun-
griefl devouring clays, in burning fand or gravel, as well as in
the mod fleril barren mofs, and the quick advance they make in
fuch lituations is amazing. I have meafured flioots of the white
Poplar eight feet long of one year's growth, and have often heard
of much more ; but there is hardly any land fo wet and beg-
garly as not to produce them, three or four feet annually, for
many fuccefTive years.

Th e (hade of tliis tree is falubrious and friendly, both to ani-
mals and vegetables, and their leaves, which are ample and
thick, pregnant with rich fweet juices, fall in fuch abundance, as
foon to create a foil that will produce good meadow, or paflure
grafs, as the fituation is moifl or dry. To effed this, I would

FOREST-TREES.

99

advife thefe trees to be planted on fuch otlierways ufelefs
land, in lines, ten feet dillant, and five afunder in the line.
In five or fix years, take away every fecond tree, which will leave
them at twenty feet by ten ; and in feven or eight years more,
repeat the fame, which will make them forty by twenty ; at this
diflance they may remain till fit for the axe.

The Poplar naturally produces many branches from their
trunks when young, which ought to be cut away clofe every
third or fourth year, to the height of fourteen or fixteen feet, to
admit a free circulation of air to the ground, as well as promote
the growth of the tree ; and when the foil has thickened, which
in a few years it will, fow on it fome white clover and natural
grafs feeds, faved from an old upland paflure. In doing this, the
land is not to be plow'd, but the furface frequently loofcned
by a Hght harrow with fhort wooden teeth, till well pvilverifed ;
then cover the feeds, by drawing fome bu.{hes lightly over them.,
and rolling the ground. This may be done any time from March
till Augufl:, as the iliade of the trees will prevent the feeds from
perifliing by drought ; but the fooner after March the bet-
ter, particularly where the land is very wet, as, by early fowing,
the roots of the grafs will be better eltablilhed, and not fubjcfl
to be fpew'd out in winter, which frequent light rollings early in
autumn, when the weather is dry, will likeways much contribute
to prevent. The fecond fprlng after fowing, when the ground
will be well covered with grafs, and fit either for pafturc or
mowing, the trees may be difbranched to the height of twenty-
f nir feet, when the prunings will be ufeful for fuel, dead fences,
and many other purpofes in huitandry. It is rem.arkable, and
what 1 have often noticed, that, immediately under the fhade
aiid drippings from this tree, the grafs is fooneil eat by cattle.
M 2

loo TREATISE on

After thcfe grounds have been paflured for eight or ten years,,
fuch of them as arc tolerably dry may be converted into corn-
land, by taking away the line of trees at twenty feet afunder,
which will leave the plantation at eighty feet by forty, a diftancc
that will do little (if any) injury to whatever grows abovit it, but
which, by alternately and jiidicioufly varying the crops, will
improve both the corn and grafs for ever..

The leaves of no tree yet known has fo good an efieci: in
compoft foil as that of the Poplar, nor will any fo foon thicken
the earth on which they grow, to which may be added that of
its being a very handfome chearful plant.

Thus, at a very inconfiderable cxpence, large trads of wafte
land in thefe kingdoms, that now produce no ufeful thing,
might, in a few years, be rendered beautiful, warm and fruitful.
Should it not then be a reproach to the owners of thefe unculti-
vated places, that an experiment fo cafy and cheap, as putting a
parcel of cuttings in the ground in fuch a manner as here di-
i-eded, is not tried ? the fuccefs of which is certain, and which,
if jvidicioufly pradtifed by a few, would as certainly be followed
by numbers to a very great and general improvement..

The trembling Poplar does not grow to the magnitude of the
other forts mentioned, and is therefore lefs proper than they for
the piirpofes defcribcd, but is, amongfl all the trees yet known,
the fitted for planting by the fides of rivers, to prevent their in-
croachments.

The wood of all the Poplars is ufed for different purpofcs, by
the turner, tlic c:irt-wright, and cooper for hoops j and that of

FOREST-TREES. roi

the Abele (which is the befl timber) is good both for flooring
and wainfcotting rooms, being, extremely white, and neither fub-
jecl to fplit, fwell, or flirink : But notwithllanding thefe good
quahties, in grounds intended to produce good and clean gral's,
I fliould rather advife the white and Lombardy Poplars, as not
fubjeft to produce fuckers, which the Abele does in fuch abun-
dance as to deflroy the grafs, or other crops where the land is
not annually cultivated : For thefe reafons, this tree ought to be
planted at fuch difbances as to run quickly up for timber-trees,.
without orher confiderations.

The white Poplar with ftrlp'd leaves, is increafed by bud-
ding it on the common white Poplar ; but the variegation is-
faint, if not plaiited on a poor thin foil.

Th e Lombardy Poplar has been but lately introduced into Bri-
tain ; it is a fine chearful pyramidal plant, grows yet faftcr tlian
the common kinds, and affords an admirable fhelter to every
thing it furrounds : It is propagated with equal eafe as the o-
thers, by cuttings, and, fo far as I have been able to obferve, is as
hardy, and will fucceed in all the fame kinds of land they do i
from whence, if generally cultivated, there appears every rea-
fon to believe it will foon turn out to a national benefit.

Th e black Carolina Poplar is a very graceful plant, but is far
from being fo hardy as any of the other kinds, great part of the
former years fhoot being fubje(ft to perifh in hard winters, or
where they are much expofed ; and therefore they ought to be
placed in a well .protedled fituation, and in a good deep, feeding,,
tnoiil, but not wet foil : For tho', in their native climate, where

I02 TREATISE on

the winters are not fo long as ours, they are mofl commonly
found in watery grounds, and by the fides of rivulets, yet, from
many repeated trials I have made, I find they will not fucceed in
fuch places here ; neither ought they to be planted in thin dry
land, where frequent waterings in lummcr will be required to
keep them barely alive. The young branches of this tree, which
grow in an angular manner, are very fingular : Their leaves are
broader than any of the other forts mentioned ; and, from their
buds in the fpring, ifiTues a very fweet balfam.

The Balfam Poplar was fent in cuttings from Canada to
Scotland five or fix years ago, and being propagated with much
eafe, arc now in the hands of many. It is, of all the fpecies, by
far the moft beautiful and magnificent plant. The leaves are
very large, of a light chearful green, and the bark of a fmooth
ihining brown>lh colour. I have feen it in various foils, both
wet and dry, of a middling good qviality, in all which it much
exceeds the other forts in luxuriance of growth. Whether it
will advance with equal facility as the common kinds, in very
poor and expofed fituations, I fliall not yet pretend to determine,
as it has not been long enough amongfl us to make fufllcient
experimen|:s ; but, from all the obfervatlons I have been able to
make, it appears a hardy plant, from whence there is reafon to
hope it may ; in which event, it will be an acquifition of the
higheft importance, both in point of ufe and beauty to our fo-
refts ; and as, if I live, trials lliall immediately be made in the
fulleft manner, this circumllance will foon be determined.

The berry-bearing Poplar was Introduced to us at the fame
tiiBC, and in the fame manner as the balfam kind. It is like-

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 103

wife a plant of much elegance, not quite fo broad in the leaf as
the other, but of a gay lighter green and whitiflx bark, deeply
furrowed.

In the beginning of March, let the cuttings of thefe trees, a
foot long, be planted, eight inches deep, in well-prepared foil,
of a good quality, in !iaes, three feet afunder, and the plants fix-
teen or eighteen inches diflant in the line, when, after two
years ftanding, they may be removed to where they are defigned
to remain.

Though, as has been obferved, thefe plants appear, and I
believe are, or will become very hardy, yet I muft notice, that,
having planted fome of their cuttings in rich, and others in poor
and lefs cultivated ground, I have loft a confiderable number of
thofe in the poor, while not one of a hundred has failed in the
generous foil ; from whence I naturally conclude, that in
making plantations of them in coarfe, barren, or cold fituations,
the nvirfed plants are much preferable to cuttings, though this is
no argument againft their becoming very hardy when advanced
in growth. But whatever their fuccefs may be in forbidding foils
and climates, we have, in the mean time, the ftrongeft motives
to encourage them for ornamental plantations in thofe that are
favourable.

IC4 TREATISE on

Chapter XVII.
The LOTE, or NETTLE TREE.

The Species are :

1. The Nettle Tree, with black fruit.

2. The Nettle Tree, with purple fruit.

3. The Nettle Tkee, with large yellow fruit.

4. The Eaftern Nettle Tree, with larger leaves and fruit.

'■ I ■* H E firft of thefe trees is a native of Europe, the fecond
and third of America, and the fourth was difcovered by
the late Dr Tournefort in the Levant, who fent its fruit to tlie
Royal Garden at Paris, where tliey were raifed, and from thence
foon introduced to the Britilli gardens. They are all of them
hardy enough to bear our fevereft winters, in ordinary fituations,
after three or four years old, and, being a tree of admirable
fhade, beauty, and ufe, deferves to be generally cultivated.

It may be raifed either from feeds, (which if you can procure,
is the bed method), or by layers : If from feeds, low them in
the fpring foon after they are ripe, (which is commonly in Ja-
nuary), in pots or boxes, about a foot deep, full of holes in the
bottom, covered with oyfter-lliells or broken tyles, and three or
four inches thick of rough ftoney gravel aboA'-e them, to drain the
moiflure, and prevent the earth from becoming heavy and four ;

F O R K S T - T R E E S. 105

Then fill the pots or boxes, within an inch of the top, with rich
loofe compofh mould; few the feeds, and lift over them hair an
inch more of the lame quality of earth. Few of thefe feeds will
appear till the following fpring; but the pots or boxes ougxit not to
be funk in the ground, as is too commonly practifed by ignorant
gardeners, in order, as they fay , to keep them moift ; and, in facl,by
lazy ones, to prevent the trouble of watering them, but which, by
detaining the water, rots more feeds and plants than any otacr
circumftance of ill management I know ; befides, thole that eieape
are poor, ftarved, and flimted Huff: Therefore let them be raifed
or eight inches above the I'urface of the ground, fupported by
ftones or logs of wood, and placed where they may receive the
morning fun only, till autumn, when they (liould be removed
imder a fouth wall, and continue there till the weather turn fe-
vcre, during wliich time they ought to be put under a covered
frame, but the glafles or other covering taken conflantly off in
mild weather. About the beginning of April after, remove tlie
boxes to their firlf fituation ; loofen the furface gently with your
fingers, picking away the foggy or mouldy parts, and fife on a
little frelh earth in proportion. About the end of April, tl>e bulk
of the plants will appear above ground, when they muft be fre-
quently but moderately watered i.i the evenings when mild,
but in the mornings, when inclined to froft, kept perfedly clean
during the fummer months, and protected as in the preceding
winter in fevere weather.

The plants being a year old, raife them carefully out of the
boxes, fhorten the downright roots, and manage them as direct-
ed for the Tulip-tree during their abode in the nurfery j with
O

io6 TREATISE on

which culture they will very well agree, till planted where they
are to remain for good.

If you intend to propagate them by layers, let this be per-
formed as foon as the leaves begin to tarnifli, about the end of
September, or early in October. The wood of this tree being
extremely hard, will not root fuificiently till the fecond year,
unlefs the fummer is uncommonly wet, or you affift them with
regular and plentiful waterings ; therefore, if you mean to fave
a feajbn, let this be particularly attended to..

When you find they have rooted abundantly,, in the end of
March, or beginning of April, take away the earth from about
the layer, of which be very tender, and with a fharp knife cut
it off beyond the joint, where, if properly laid,, the roots will
principally be ; prune away all but the flrongeft and (Iraighted
Ihoot, and plant them in a nurfery of good frefli foil, in row&,
at two and a half feet diftance, and a foot afundcr in the row ;
give them fre.querLt waterings till the roots are well eflablillied ;
keep the ground clean, digging it between the rows in autumn
and fpring,. and let them remain here two years..

These trees may now be either planted out for good, or re-
moved to another nurfery, cutting oflf the extremities of their
roots and all ill-placed branches, and placed in rows tliree and. a
half feet diftant and eighteen inches in the row, treating them
as formerly, and letting them remain for three years.

The Nettle Tree will fucceed in any ordinary land, but moft
delights in a deep moiil foil, where they will foon become flate-

TO REST-TREES.

1C7

ly trees ; and their fine regular fpreading heads, of chearlui
green, renders them extremely proper, either for clumps in parks,
groves, fingle trees, or avenues.

Nfxt to the Plat anus this plant was moft efteemed by the an-
tient Romans, both for its grateful fliade, and timber immortal,
as they ililed it. Of this the vafl fum offered by Craffus to Do-
mitius for half a dozen of them, growing about his houfe in
Rome, is an inconteftible proof. It is doubtlefs amongfl the
hardefh wood of any we know : It was formerly ufed for pipes,
and all kinds of wind-inftruments ; and the roots make excellent
handles for knives, with many different kinds of tools that re-
quire Ilrength and folidity.

■O 2.

TREATISE ON

Chapter XVIII.
The laburnum, or BEAN-TREFOIL.

Tbe Species are :

1. TKc broad-leav'd Laburnum.

2. The narrow-lciiv'd Laburnum, with long peuduloiis

flowers,

3. The broad-leav'd Laburnum, with very fliort pendu-

lous flowers.

'' P ^ H E S E trees are propagated by fowing their feeds {which
-■- they annually produce in plenty) in March, on a bed of
frefli earth, covering them about half an inch thick ; and, in four
or five weeks, the plants will appear above ground, when fome
gentle waterings in dry weather will inuc|i promote their
growthjoaoT i>oo . biBod avisd oj 73dm:

The follov/ing February or March, remove them from the
feed-bed to the nurfery ; Ihorten their roots, which are naturally
carroty, but which are not injured by cutting them freely when
young i plant them in lines, two and a half feet diilant, and a
foot afunder in the line ; keen them clean ; dig the ground be-
tween the lines in autumn and fpring, and let tliem remain two
feafons.

From hence remove them, in Ocflober or February, to another
quarter ; flill continue to reduce the roots that incline down-

F O R E S T - T 11 E E S. 109

wards, and fmooch the extremities of the fpreading ones ; prune
off all ill-placed lateral branches, but leave fome of the fmalleft
at proper diflances ; for this tree, making prodigious Ihoots when
the fide-boughs are all cut off, bends with its own weight, and
is afterwards with dilEculty redrelled. This being properly per-
formed, plant them in lines, five feet diflant, and two feet afun-
der in the line ; manage them as formerly diredled, and prune
them annually to their proper form ; in wdiich fituation they
may remain three or fovir years, as your occafions require, by
which time they will produce their flowers, and make an agree-
able appearance in whatever plantation you place them.

It fecms to me fomewhat flrange, that the Labiinmm has not
been univerlally cultivated in large quantities, it being a plant of
admirable beauty in May when in bloom, and propagated with
the greatefl eafe, and fmallell expence, of moft trees. It will f\ic-
ceed in various foils, and even in that which is very poor and
hungry; but where there is any confiderable depth of tolerable
mould, tlie progrefs it makes is amazing. Though I do not re-
member to have heard the quality of the wood recommended
by any aiithor, yet I am well afiured it is very valuable for fiin-
dry purpofes, and by fome preferred even to mahogany for its
folidity and beautiful colour, which is bright yellow, veined with
dark purple ; and I myfelf have i^ccn a large table and a dozen
chairs of it, in the pofTefTion of a noble Lord, which good jud-
ges of elegant furniture thought the finefl of thole kinds they
had ever feen.

I HAVE one further hint to give in favour of this plant,
wdiich alone makes it claim much attention, and that is, mix-

tt lo TREATISE on

ing them in all plantations infefted with hares, who are fo fond
of them, that while a twig remains, no other plant will be
touched, and though cat to the ground every w' inter, they will
fpring with additional vigour the Succeeding fmnmer, and con-
(lantly fupply tliefe animals in luxury. This, to my certain
experience, may be depended on ; and the produce of five fliil-
lings worth of feed, properly raifed and diftributed, will furnifli
plants enough to protecb 500,000 other trees. Many expen-
five and laborious experiments have been ineffecTiually tried to
protect young plantations from thefe rapacious enemies : Here is
ii cheap and no lefs certain remedy; and, however limple the dil-
covery may appear, the effects of it will be of the highcft conH-
deration to every planter who puts it in pradice.

F O R E S T - T R E E S. lu

Chapter XIX.
The alder TREE.

THIS tree delights in wet boggy land, and will even grow
where water flands conftantly, but, if planted in dry
ground, is mofl perniciotis and devouring, as, by attrading all
the moiflure and generous juices from the earth, it will foon
render it totally barren. From fifty to twenty years ago, vafl
qixantities of thefe plants were brought from Holland to this
country, at a comlderable price, and, unhappily for the owners,
planted in large tracts of moifl land, from whence no returns
fiiitable to the labour and expence have been received. Had
the fame money been bellowed on planting Poplars and A-
beles, they would by this time have highly increafed the value
of fuch eftates, and become a general improvement ; whereas
the injudicious choice of Alders has proved a bad example to
young planters, and probably deterred many from planting at all,
who otherways might have chofen handfomer and more pro-
fitable trees.

They are eafily propagated by layers, or by cuttings of three,
four, or five years growth, planted in February or March ; but
being an ugly melancholy tree, I chufe to fay no more of it, as
fui:idry aquatics, of greater beauty and value, will grow abun-
dantly fafter in the fame fituations they afiect ; and it is only
to warn the unexperienced planter againft: the frequent ufe of
diem, that I have mentioned a tree I fo much diflike.

ri2 TREATISE on

Chapter XX.
The birch TREE.

The Species are :

1. The common Birch Tree.

2. The Poplar-leav'd Birch Tree.

3. The Canada Birch Tree.

TH E common Birch may be propagated either from feeds or
fuckers taken from the roots of old trees, but the feedfmgs
make the handfomeil and beft-rooted plants. I fliall therefore
firfl diredl their culture in that way, which, though one of the
hardieft and mofl common trees our climate produces, (of which
it is a native) yet is it feldom fuccefsfully raifed from feeds,,
which is generally owing to too much covering, and which it
will by no means bear, as the plants, when they firll vegetate,
are very delicate, and unable to force their way through any
confiderable depth of foil ; but by obferving the following hmple
practice, you will procure them in abundance ;

Th e feeds of the Birch are ripe about the end of September
or beginning of Odlober, when, having gathered them in a fiiir
clear day, fpread them thin on a loft floor till dry ; after which,
mix them with loofe fand, and keep them in an airy place till the
beginning of the following March. The ground for fowing them,
which ought to be freih and light, having been trenched or dug
the preceding autumn, point it over again, making it as loofe
as polTible, and raking it very fine ; divide it in beds, three and
a half feet wide ; fow the feeds, and clap them into the ground
with the back of a fpade, without any earth tlirown over them.

FOREST-TREES. 113

If tlie weathei' is moift and mild, no further care is neceflliry ;
but if dry and frofly, which is often the cafe at this feafon,
throw a little peafe-haulm over the beds, for three or four weeks,
till the feeds begin to vegetate, which will keep the ground mo-
derately moift, and defend them from being injured by froft, or
deftroyed by birds, who are very fond of them. About this
time uncover the beds, keep the ground quite clean, and give
them three or four gentle waterings about noon, from the mid-
dle to the end of April, the weather being mild and dry ;
which repeat more plentifully and frequently from thence till
the middle of June, in mild evenings, when they will require no
further attention.

The following March, remove thefe plants from the feminary
to the nurfery, fliortening their top-roots, and plant them in
lines, two and a half feet diftant, and about ten or twelve inches
afunder in the lines ; to ftand two years, if the land is good,
and the plants have grown freely ; but in poor thin foil, where
their progrefs has been fmall, they may continue three years ;
in which cafe, after the fecond year's growth, cut over fuch of
them as are leaft thriving or crooked, clofe by the ground, in
March, wliich will give them ftraighter and more A'igoroui
{hoots.

Those taken from the roots of old trees, or feedlings grub-
bed up from tlie woods, cannot have fo good roots or free flioots
as plants raifed in a clean well cultivated nurfery-bed, and there-
fore will of courfe require more time and attention to make
them equally good trees : For this purpofe, having procured the
plants with all the roots poffible, fhorten fuch of them as incline
to run downward ; cut away fuch as are broken or bruifed,

P

114 TREATISE on

with all die mufly parts naturally contracled in the woods for
want of air ; reduce likcwife the tops of fuch as are too tall or
heavy-headed, and lay them in drills cut down with the fpade,
at the fame chllances directed for the feed lings, in depth propor-
tioned to the fize of the plants, tli£ mod certain rule for which,
in this and all other trees, is placing them as deep only as they
have naturally flood before ; water them at planting, keep the
ground clean, and dig between the lines in the fpring. Having
flood here two years, cvit them all over by the ground, and let
them remain two years longer, when they may be removed for
good.

The fecond and third forts will bear our winters well enough,
when mixt with and fheltered by other plants : They may be
propagated either by layers or budding them on the common
kind ; but it is uncertain raifnig them by feeds from America,
which do not vegetate, if kept long ou.t of the ground.

Th e Birch is a handfome plant ; and though the wood is not
amongll the mofl valuable, yet it is ufeful for various purpofes ;
and no tree is more required by the country people, for their
houfes, or for ploughs, and other inllruments of hufbandry.

The late Earl of Hadinton, the greateft, mofl judicious
and fuccefsful planter of his time in this country, jullly calls the
Birch an ampliibious plant, as it grows on ricii and poor, wet
and dry, fandy or rocky fituations, nor refufes any foil or cli-
mate, and its fragrant linell after rains juflly intitles it to a place
in the wildernefs ; to which I Ihall only add, that by wounding
the tree in the fpring, is extradled a large quantity of juice,
that, fermented, becomes a fpirituons, delicious, wholelbmc liquor.

F O R E S T - T R E E S'. 115

Chapter XXI.
The service TREE.

The Species are :

1. The true Service Tree.

2. The manured Service Tree.

3. The Maplerleav'd Service Tree..

4. The Virginian wild Service, with leaves Uke the Straw*

berry tree.

5. The common wild Service Tree.

6. The White Beam, or Area Theopkrasti.

7. The Quick Beam, in Etigland commonly called the

Mountain Ash, in Scotland the Rowan Tree..

8. The Quick Beam, with ftrip'd leaves.

npHESE plants, though not ufually propagated for common
Foreft-trces, are yet well worth our attention in all collec-
tions for ornament ; and both their fweet fmelling bloflbms ear-
ly in fummer, and large bunches of bright red fruit in autumn,
have a very pleafing effedl in the wilderneft, or in clumps in
parks, lawns, (^-'c.

They are all to be propagated by thefowing their feeds ; but
the four forts firil mentioned, like many other fruits, feldom .
P 2

ii6 TREATISE on

produce the fame kind of plants from whence the fe?ds were
taken; and therefore, to preferve the different fpecies, they mufl
be increased by layers, or by budding and grafting them on the
common forts, or Pear-ftocks. Thefe budded or grafted will
make better plants than the layers, and on the Pear-flocks they
will fooner become fruitful, and bear fairer fruit than on (locks
of their own fpecies. I {hall therefore proceed to the other kinds,
of which I have raifed great quantities from feed, witliout any
variation from the parent tree.

Having provided the berries in October, divefl them of the
pulp, by rubbing them between your hands in water, and after
that with fand, in which preferve them till the hrft dry
weather in fpring, and fow them on beds of rich well-pre-
pared loofe earth, three and a half feet broad, covering them
one inch thick. Few of thefe feeds will appear above ground till
the following fpring, but the beds mufi: notvvithftanding be kept
perfectly clean during the fummer months ; and as foon in Fe-
bruary as the weather will admit, with a fliort-teeth'd rake, drefs
and loofen the beds, throwing on fome frelh foil in proportion
to the hard and foggy parts you have taken off; and by the
beginning of April, the weather being dry and not frofly, wa-
ter them gently in the mornings once a week till July, which
will much encourage their growth.

From the feed-bed remove them the following fpring, flior-
ten their top-roots, and plant them in well-prepared rich foil,
in rows two feet diftant and a foot afunder in the row, where
they ought to remain two ) ears, keeping the ground clean in
fmnmcr, and digging between the lines in fpring and autumn.

FOREST-TREES

^7

Having ftood here two feafons, remove them to another nur-
fery, cutting away all crofs downright or fuperfluons roots; but
be fparing of the other fpreading ones, and only fmooth them
at the extremities : Plant them at three and a half feet by eigh-
teen inches afunder, treating them as formerly, to remain three
years, when they will be of a proper fize to remove vv'here they
are intended to continue for good.

Though the fifth, fixth, and feventh forts, will, any of them,
anfwer for (locks to bud the other kinds on, yet of thefe the
White Beam will make the bcit plant, tho', as has been fiid,
the Pear-flock is better ftill ; therefore, fuch of thefe as are in-
tended to be budded, fliould be pick'd out, the moll vigorous
plants of a year's growth, and planted on generous loii, at the
diflance of three feet by fourteen or iixteen inches, biidded the
fecond fummer after removal, and Hand two years longer after
budding, when they may be removed for good.

The Quick Beam with flrip'd leaves, miifl likewife be increa-
fed by budding, and fucceeds bed on (locks of its own kind.

These trees in general a(re6l a (Irong moid foil, though the
fined plants of the (^ick Beam I have ever feen, were on dry
elevated groiuid : Their w^ood is much ufed by the wheel-wright,
as well as for many purpofes of hufbandry, and is excellent fuel :
Their berries are the mod tempting bait of any fruit for the
black birds and thruflies, wdio will never fail of giving their
company fo long as they lad,

ii8 TREATISE on

Chapter XXIL
The JUDAS TREE.

The Species are :

1. The common Judas Tree.

2. The Canada Judas Tree.

3. The CaroHna Judas Tree, with pointed leaves.

TH E firft of thefe is a native of the warmer parts of Europe,
and abounds in Italy, Spain, and the fouthern parts of
France.

The fecond fort is common in Virginia, New-England, Ca-
nada, and mod of the northern countries of America, where it is
called Red Bud, from the beautiful colour of its flower-buds.

The third fort is a common plant in the woods of Carolina, .
but differs from the other two in the form of its leaves, which
arc pointed, the former being nearly round ; the flowers of this
too are fmaller, and the plants, for three or four years, require a
little more fhelter in cafe of hard winters, after which they will
bear our climate perfc(5lly well in an ordinary fituation.

These trees may be propagated by layers, which will make
.kandfomc enough plants if properly trained ; but the fcedling^s

F O R E S T - T R E E S. i ig

are {lill better, and feeds from the places of their native growth
are preferable to thofe faved in Britain, being larger and better
ripened.

As foon as thofe feeds are either received from abroad, or ga-
thered at home, after having been made quite dry, let them be
mixed with loofe fand, and preferved from froft and wet till the
middle or latter end of March, as the weather is more or lefs fa-
vourable. About this time fow them on a bed of rich mellow dry
foil, and cover them half an inch deep. In four or five weeks,
the plants will begin to appear, when the bed ought to be hoop-
ed over, and, when neceffary, covered with mats, firfh to prote6l
them from the cold frofty winds frequent at that fcafon, and
exceflive rains which fometimes burft them, and afterwards to
fcreen them from the fcorching heat of the fun, which will
much accelerate their growth. From their appearance above
ground, they mufl be gently tho' frequently watered in the
mornings while the weather continues cold, but afterwards in
the evenings when mild. In this fituation they will require no
more trouble, than, in cafe of a fevere winter, throwing the mats
over them in ftorms, and removing them regularly as the air
becomes temperate.

Th e fucceeding fpring, as foon as tiie buds begin to fvv'ell, re-
move the plants from the feminary to a nurfery of the fame kind
of well-prepared loofe foil ; fliorten the top-roots, and plant
them in rows two feet and a half diflant, and about a foot a-
funder in the row ; give them a gentle v/atering, which ought
to be frequently repeated in the evenings of dry weather during
the fummer months, and keep the foil about them clean and

I20 TREATISE on

mellow. Thefe trees naturally grow in a wild irregular man-
ner, and, when kit to unaiiiiled nature, are rather of the bufliy
Shrub kind. To correct this defecl:, place a flake firm by the fide
of each plant ; and as it advances in height, tiethe leading fhoot
to it with a piece of foft bafs, which direction it will afterwards
retain, and the plants will grow (tralght and regular. In cafe
the following winter lliould prove fevere, it may be neceflliry to
throw fome peafe-llraw over the ground, to keep the frofls from
injuring the roots, and, the fucceeding fpring, let it be dug into
the ground between the rows. At this time let all the low-
growing branches of the former year be cut clofe away, that
they may not impede the vigorous growth of the leading flioot,
which muft be conllantly tied to the Hake as it advances in
height ; but tho' the lowell, all the fmall branches are not to be
taken away, that the main one may not be drawn too tall and
ilendei-, but advance with bulk proportioned to its height. If
thefe circumflances are attended to, the plants will only requh-e
the additional trouble of keeping them clean during their abode
here.

Th e Judas tree Iliould not remain longer than two years in
the fame nurfery from the feed-bed, and therefore, the fucceed-
ing fpring, may either be planted out where they are to remain,
or (which I would rather advife) be committed to another nur-
i'cry, and planted at greater intervals, for two years longer,
where they may be treated in the fame manner as has been
direded ; by which time, they will be large, handfome, hardy
plants.

Tho' the above method of culture is the cheapeft and eaficfl
for raifing great quantities of thefe trees, yet to fuch as are

FOREST-TREES. 121

above the regard of common expence, and want to promote their
growth as fafl as poflible, a readier prai!^ice may be followed,
and which, for three or fonr years, will make the plants- double
the iize of thofe raifed in the natural way.

For this purpofe, the beginning of March, fow the feeds thin
in penny-pots, and plunge them to the rim in a moderate hot-
bed of tanners bark, rather than horfe-dung ; the heat of the
bark being more equal, lading, and lefs fleam arifmg from it,
than that of the dung. When the feeds have been a week fown,
they mufl be very gently watered every third or fourth day ;
after the plants come above ground,, every fecond day, and the
quantity of water increafed as they advance in growth. When
the plants are about five or fix inches high, which may be about
the beginning of May, draw out the flrongeil of them, leaving
the fmal'ler in the fituation they were in ; plant each of tliofe in
a feparate penny-pot, and plunge them again into another mo-
derate hot-bed, watering them frequently and plentifully, co-
vering the glafles with mats when the fun fliines in the heat of
the day, to prevent their being fcorched, and admitting a
proper quantity of air to them, that they be nor over-drawn. In
this condition they may remain till about the firft of Auguft,
when the bark will have loft moft of its heat, and when the pots
may be taken out of it, but ftill kept in tlie frame, though more
and more expofed to the open air daily, till the glaffes are taken
away wholly during the mild weather of the autumn months.
On the approach of winter, the glaffes muft again be replaced on
their frames, to protect: the plants in fcvcre ftonns onlv ; but
they ought to be fully expofed to the open air, when the feaibi5
is. temperate.

Q

122 TREATISE ON

Th e following fpring, let the fmall plants that remained in
the pots where ibwn, be carefully fliakcn out of them, and divi-
ded fo as not to injure their tender roots and fibres ; cut away
with a fliarp knife the extremities of their downright and ftrag-
gling roots, and put them in feparate pots of the llime fize ;
plunge tlijem again with the others that were unpotted the pre-
ceding fummer, in a frefh tan-bed, till the month of July, by
which time they will have made vigorous flioots, and the pots be
full of roots ; harden them by degrees, and treat them as in the
former year ; only,, as the plants will be much ftronger, and of
courfe more haruy,^ they may be more fuddenly expofed to the
open air, and need not fo much proteclion the following winter,
even in hard weather.

When the fap begins to rife, the fvicceeding fpring, carry
tliel'e pots to the quarter of the nurfery where you intend to plant
them, which ihould be as nearly as you can fuch a foil as de-
fcribed for the feedlings, and iheltered a little by trees or hedges ;
make pits with a fpade, at three feet diftance by two, as deep
and fomething wider than the. pots, from which fliake them
carefully out with their whole bulk of earth, which may eafily
be done without injuring their fmallefh root ; place them up-
right, and no deeper than they have ftood before ; give them a
plentiful watering ; prune away the under branches, and any
others that are ill-placed, and fix a ilrong flake, by each of them
tliat inclines to be crooked, to which tye the leading flioot ; and
in this fituatlon let them remain two years, digging the ground
abovit them in autumn and fpring, and continuing to prime a-
way all fuperfluous ill-placed branches, when you may tranfplant
them to the places where they are meant to remain for good.

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 123

By ;\ttending to what has been faid on the propagation of
thofe plants, they can be raifcd with fuch abundance of roots,
as not to be retarded in their growth, or feel the fmallcft check
on their removal.

If I have been tedious in diredling the management of the Ju-
das Tree, it is becaufe I think it a plant of fingular elegance and
beauty, when affifted by proper culture, which is fixr from be-
ing the common cafe; and I cannot help thinking, it is from
not attending to that, we fee it fo very little propagated, even by
men of knowledge and obfervation in gardening. In its natural
ftate, indeed, it grows in an irregular flraggling manner ; but
by leading the principal fhoot, as here dire^led, it may eaiily be
elevated to the height of twenty -five feet or upwards. The flow-
ers are of a beautiful red colour, tinged with crimfon and pur-
ple ; the leaves, a fine deep green, large, and nearly rovind. The
flowers appear befoi^e the leaves are expanded, and, in well-
grown trees, are fo numerous as almofl: to cover the branches,
which altogether renders it one of the grcateft beauties of the
fpring.

Q^z

12,4 T R E A T I S E on

C II A P T E R XXIII.

The elder TREE.

1

HIS tree is little planted but for the fake of its berries, of
which they make wine, and likewife ufe them for fundry
other purpofes ; but it has other good qualities than theie to re-
commend it, and in bad climates, and cold barren foils, it may
become a valuable plant.

It will grew in wet and dry, cold and hot, and Indeed in ail
kinds of foil, amazingly fall ; and in the moil forbidding fitua-
tions, where thorns and the better kinds of hedge plants will not
fucceed, by putting in flakes of the Elder, of four, five, or fix
years growth, about three feet high, planted a foot deep, and
.about a foot afunder, you may in three years have hedges that
will rcfift the wildell cattle, and by their warmth much improve
the ground. Thefe hedges being cut clofe to the body of the
plants every third or fourth year, will branch out again more
num.eroufly than ever, and afford a conflant fupply of fuel,
which, in many fituations, might prove a bleffmg to the poor
inhabitants. It might alfo be ufed to inuch advantage in bet-
ter fituations intended for plantations of the mofl valuable Fp-
reft-trees, by planting them thick in lines acrofs the mofl expo-
fed places of the field, where, by their quick growth, and the
excellent prote^lion they afford againfl tempeflvious and frofty
winds, the; vv ill higiil/ contribute to the fpeedy advance of fucb

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 125

plarxtations ; and the Elders may be cut down by degrees, as
the other trees advance.

However much this plant is generally difregarded, it is not-
wkhllanding a handfome chearful tree, and, when covered with
its numerous clullers of white flowers in fpring, and purple
berries in autumn, has a very agreeable effe(5l in lawns, clumps,
<^c. But I would by no means advife its being planted in the
wilderncfs or forefl promifcuoufly with other trees, as their
creeping roots, that extend a great way, would rob the other
plants near tliem of their proper novu-ifhment ; neither fliould
they be placed in any quantity near habitations, where the
flrong fcent emitted from their flowers will occafion pains in the
head ; but, for the firfl:-mentioned purpofes of nurflng other
plants, difpofed at proper diftances from them, they deferve at-

:v6 T n E A T I S E

C n A P T E R XXIV.

The T a C a M a H a G a TREE.

THIS tree grows fpontaneoufly on the continent of America,
where the inhabitants wound the bodies of them in the
fprlng, from whence flows a balfam much efteemed by the phy-
ficians in tiiofe countries ; and it is hardy enough to bear our
fcvereft winters.

It is eafily propagated by cuttings planted about the middle
of February, in rich mellow earth, Ihaded from the mid-day
fun, and watered in dry weather, where, in one year, if the
cuttings were ftrong, they will grow upwards of three feet
high.

The fucceedlng February, remove the cuttings to a nurfery
of any good middling deep foil ; fmooth the extremities of their
roots ; cut off the ilrong fide branches, and plant them in rows
three feet diftant and eighteen inches afunder in the row ; give
them a plentiful watering ; keep the ground clean ; dig between
the rows in autumn ; and let them continue in this nurfery two
or three years, A^'hen they may be tranfplanted to the places in
which they are intended to remain.

This is a quick-growing graceful plant, and juflly claims a
place in the wilJcnitfs, or other ornamental plantations. Tiie

F O R E S T - T R E E S.

-7

leaves are long, thick, of a bright Ihiniug green, with their un-
der fides of a lively filver hue, which, when waving with the
wind, makes an agreeable diverfity. The buds are covered with
a dark glutinous balfam, which fmeils very ftrong, and adheres
to the fingers on touching them ; and they warn us, with the
earlieft plants, of the approach of fpring. They will grow in
any ordinary foil, but moft affetfl that which is mellow and
deep. Where there are void fpaces in the wildernefs, occafioned
by the death of other trees, this planted, and let grow in its
natural manner, which is thick and bufhy, will fooner fupply
thefe defeds handfomely than moft other plants.

128 TREATISE on

EVERGREENS,

Chapter XXV.
The pine TREE.

The Species are :

1. The Scots Pine, commonly called the Scots Fir Tree. .

2. The manured Pine Tree,

3. The Pinaster, or wild Pine Tree.

4. The large Stone Pine Tree.

5. The fmaller Stone Pine Tree.

6. The Clufler Pine Trek.

7. The Eaftern Pine Tree.

8. The Swamp Pine Tree, with long narrow leaves.

9. The Jerfey Pine Tree.

10. The Virginian Pine Tree, with long narrow leaves, and

a rough cone.

11. The Virginian Pine, commonly called the Frankincence

Tkef.

12. The New England Pine Tree.

'T^HFRE arc many other forts of Pines mentioned by different

authors ov Gardening and Botany ; but thefc, from expe--

ricncej and what obfervations I have been capable of making,

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 129

are moft worthy of general culture in the climate of Great-
Britain.

I SHALL begin with defcribing the common method in Scot-
land of cidtivating the Scots Pine or Fir, from which practice,
many millions are annually raifed and planted out amongft us ;
and then, as Ihortly as I can, hint what circumftances I have long
found an improvement on that pradlice.

The ufual way is, to gather their cones in winter, and fow
the feeds about the end of April or beginning of May; but as
before that feafon of the year, the fun has feldom power enough
to open the cones, they have recourfe to laying them before a hot
fire, or upon a kiln, which, if not done with great caution, arid
the heat made very temperate, totally delfroys a great part of
the feeds, or in all events, though done with difcretion, it
weakens the whole. Little obfervation, and lefs philolbphy, will
{liow this practice oppofite to nature.

These feeds however, the befl they can gee, are fown at the
feafon before-mentioned on beds of well- prepared earth, ex-
tremely thick, and covered about a quarter of an inch deep,
where they remain two years.

From the feed-bed, fuch as are not demanded, the gardeners
remove to the nuffery, where they are dill planted out very thick,
and from thence fold the following or fecond year after, as the
demand happens to be more or lefs.

Much the greateft quantity of Scots Firs are planted cut in
Scotland from the feed-bed, and fuch are generally (tho' furely
R

130 TREATISE on

very Injudicioufly) chofen foi' the mod hungry barren foils, and
mofl bleak expofed ficuations, where, from, the natural hardinels
of the plant, in kindly moift feafons, they freqviently grow ; but
where, if the following May is accompanied with cold wither-
ing frofty winds, and June with drought, (a circumftance, from
fatal experience, we too often find the cafe in this climate), they
generally perifli.

This, however^ though a too frequent, is not an univerfal
pradlice, as feveral gentlemen, of knowledge and experience in
gardening, plant large quantities of them from the nurfery at
three and four years old, when, if they have been tolerably well
cultivated, it muft be a very bad foil and feafon indeed if they
do not fucceed.

Such is the common method of propagating this plant; It
remains I fhould diredl its culture in the way I have fucceeded
better than ufual,

I HAVE obferved, that the feeds of this tree are rarely, if ever,
got amongft us in full perfedion, and given my reafons for it.
To gather the cones therefore fully ripe, and make them emit
their feeds, without committing violence on them, obferve the
following rules :

These cones, as thofe of the Larch, increafe in maturity du-
ring the whole winter, and, like them, fhould not be gathered
till fpring, though their management afterwards is much more
fnnple, being with more eafe diverted of their covering.

FOREST-TREES. 131

Let thein therefore be gathered from the fairefl and mod llou-
rifliing trees of the red khid (or if fallen from them, they are fo
much the better) in March or April, and kept in a dry place till
June, July, or Auguft, as the weather fooner or later becomes hot :
At the moft favourable of thefe feafons, fpread them on a mat
or canvafs expofed to the fun during the heat of the day, taking
them under cover in the evenings, and keeping them conftantly
from the rains and dews. In a few days the cones will expand,
and the feeds will rattle within them : When this comes to be the
cafe, put them in a wire-fieve, and fliake them above a cloth,
on which you will find many of the feeds come out ; repeat the
fpreading of the cones in the warmeft expofures to the mid-
day fun for feveral days, (as the feeds will not all be difcharged
perhaps for fome weeks, and with fundry Ihakings), till having
bruifed fome of the cones, you find they contain no feeds that
are plump and freih. Having thus procured them, "let them
be kept in boxes or bags, placed in a dry room, till the feafou
of fowing.

By collecting your feeds in this manner, (and the cxpence or
trouble is not great), you will have them unhurt, ripe and ge-
nerous, a pound of which will raife more plants than fix of that
ufually bought from the feed-gatherers : Nor is even this the
greacefl advantage; for every gardener knows, (or at lead ought
to know) that on the good qtiality of the feed depends the fu-
ture luxuriant growth of the plant, as a difeafed or weak parent
is not likely to produce a healthy and vigorous offspring. It is
much to be wifhed this circumftance were more attended to than
it ufually is, both in the animal and vegetable creation.
R 2

13-

T R 11 A T I S E

I PROCF. FD to the management of the feeds, from the pradlicc
of which I have found uncommon fuccefs in the culture of this
ufcful plant ; and the public may be aflured, I iliail not give a
hint on the fubjecl, the benefit of which I have not been fully
fenfible of from long and frequent experience.

From fowing the Fir feeds fo late in the fcafon as they com-
monly are, they do not appear above ground till the weather is
warm, and the greatefb drought ufually begins in this covmtry.
Thus they mull either be regularly watered, (which in large
miantities is very expenfive), or whole quarters of them may
perifh in a few days. Every nurferyman of the lead obferva-
tion will acknowledge this, having felt it to his fad experience.
It has happened often within thefe twenty years paft ; and we
need go no farther back than the year 1771, for a fatal example
of it, when not only the Scots Firs, but all the other evergreen
tree-feeds were generally burnt up, nor in many fituations did
even watering preferve them. Neither is this the only misfor-
tune that frequently attends late fowing : There is another, and
a very great one, that never fails, and that neither a kindly fea-
fon, nor good foil, will prevent, that is, the fmall growth of the
plants ; from which, if the liacceeding winter is fevere, the
grcateft part of them will either be killed, or fpewed out of the
ground.

To prevent thefe frequent misfortunes, I therefore advife to
fow the feeds in fliady borders of generous loofe mould, at the
rate of a pound of good feeds in a bed or beds of fixty feet
long by three and a half broad, about the middle of March, or

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 133

as Toon after as the land is dry, and the weather fiwourable.
About a quarter of an inch thick will be fuflicient covering for
the plants to fpring through ; but if they are covered at firft half
an inch, and juft as the feeds begin to vegetate, half of that be
gently raked o£F with a fhort-teeth'd rake, it will be a material
improvement, as by that means the furtace, wdiich otherways
would have been a little hard and battered, Avill be loofe and
mellow, nor will the plants meet with any obftriiclion till their
appearance above ground. This circumftance, which, fo far as
I have feen, is not attended to at all, is yet of great importance
in the culture of plants, and Ihould not only be praflifed with
all the evergreen tribe, but indeed with all tree-feeds in general,
as it w^ll greatly increafe the number, and accelerate both their
prefent and future growtli. Many thoufands of plants, in ftift'
ground and dry feafons, are iinothered, being tinable to flrug-
gle with a hard-crufled furf^ice, for want of this precaution ; and
however general the negle6l of it has been, it is too obvious to
require further explanation, as every gardener of common fenfe,
and the leaft attention, mud plainly perceive this is removing
obllrudions, and aflifting nature in her operations.

I MUST here likewife obferve an almofl univerfal error in the
fowing thefe feeds, which is, that if the nurferyman has them
not as thick as a bed of CrelFes, he efleems them an infufficient
crop. This, however, is a moft barbarous and even difhoneft
practice, and the bad effedls of it have, more tiian any other cir-
cumftance I know, retarded the fuccefs of our plantations. The
plants thus raifed as thick as tiisy can Hand, are ftarved and
dwarfilh, and, from want of air, :b tender, as to be aifeded, and
often to perifli, with the firft hard weather 5 or if, from favour-

134 T RE A T I S E on

able circiimflanccs in the foil or fimation of the place, they
■flaould hvc, their llioots are poor and languid, their roots car-
roty and without fibres ; in which ftate they will long continue,
if a fucceeding hard wintei- does not qnite deftroy them. Many
gentlemen who ha^e purchafed large quantities of firs fo raifed,
imported from the north of Scotland, and fold for lefs than half
the price any man can raife good plants for, have paid dear for
their intended frugality, and are now too fenfible of the truth
of what is here obferved. Nor is this pradlice confined to the
north of Scotland only ; for, I am forry to fay, it has defufed itfelf
over mod parts of the kingdom, and at laft reached the capital,
where feveral people have ftarted up and afllmied the chara6ler
of nurferymen, vinbred to, and imknowlng in the meaneft branch
of gardening. Thefe gentlemen have adopted the fyftem of
their northern brethren, and impofed on the ignorant and un-
wary, by felling their fviffbcated trafh, which well they may,
under the rate of good plants ; whence they have injured the
fixir-dealing intelligent nurferyman, whofe heart difclaims
receiving money at fo great an expence as deforming, in place
of beavitifying and inriching his country. It is hoped the na-
ture of the fubjedl will procure pardon for this digreflion, which
is tar from being the effedl of ill nature or envy, thefe invaders
being of a fpecies too contemptible to admit of either. Some of
them have already paid for their prefumption, and it is hoped
all of them will in due time, as, from the univerfal tafte of plant-
ing in this kingdom amongft men of fortune and education,
they will foon become judges of the difference between good and
bad plants, and of courfe difcourage the ignorant and dilhonefl
pra(5lices of quacks and impoflors.

FOREST-TREES.

135

As the plants begin to appear above ground, if water is to be
had at no great diftance, and the weather is dry, wlthutf rofl,
it will mvich promote their growth, to water them in the morn-
nings early once every fom' or five days for five or fix weeks,
when they will have got roots enough to continue growing vi-
goroufly the remaining part of the fummer, and require no fur-
ther labour than keeping them clear of weeds.

From the beginning to the middle of April following, tranf-
plant them from the feed-bed (cutting away a little of their
downright roots) to other Ihady well-prepared borders, in rows
fifteen inches afunder and fix or feven inches in the row, and
give them three or four plentiful waterings at and foon after
planting, if the weather require it. The fucceeding Odober and
March, point over the ground between the rows, which will en-
courage the fpreading of their fibres, and let them remain here
two years from their removal ; at which time, from tliis culture,
thefe plants will have fuch abundance of roots, with bodies fo
thick and well-proportioned, that they will encounter all diffi-
culties, and fucceed in the worft foils and coldefl fituationc,
much better than feedlings.

For the purpofe of flieltering fuddenly plantations of finer
trees, in tlie garden or wildernefs, with large firs, thefe plants
may again be removed to another nurfery, and planted in rov/a
three feet afunder and eighteen inches in the row, where, after
(landing two years longer, and digging the ground as formerly,
they will tranfplant with abfolute fafety, and grow as freely as
the younger plants, notwithftanding the general prejudice againft
old Scots Firs, which has only a good foundation when they

136 TREATISE on

have not been tranfplanted fcafonably, and otherways properly
cul'dvaccd.

In removing thefe plants, either from the feed-bed or from
one nurfery to another, while young, I mufl here advife a
fiinple and eafy precaution may never be omitted, which is, to
have flanciing by you a tub with water and earth, mix'd to fuch
a confidence, as that a confiderable quantity of it will adhere to
the roots of the plants : The moment they are raifed, let them be
plunged in the tub as deep as they flood in the ground ; and if
they continue for fcveral hours in this fituation, it will be fo
much the better, as in that time they will in'.hibe a quaritity of
moirture fufEcient to enable them to proceed in a growing (late,
and refiift the drought till they have flruck root, when they will
iliift for themfelves. By attending to this pradlice, I have often
fucceeded in the removal of Firs in unfavourable feafons ; but
where it was negleded, they have generally been cut off'.

Tho' I have recommended the removal of the Scots Fir or
Pine at a year old, yet I mean that Ibould be underfiood under
certain reflridlions, and only pracflifed when the feeds are early
fovs^n on good foil, as here directed, and when from a favourable
feafon they have become good well-grovv^n plants ; but if other-
ways, and thefe rules have not been obferved, but the ground
poor, the fowing late and too thick, the plants will be fmall,
Hunted, and unable to bear tranfplantation, fo rauft of courfe
remain another year ; bxit even then, they will be much inferior
to thofc of a year old fown feafonably on good land and mode-
rately thin. There is but one cure I know of for thick-fown
flimted plants, which is, going carefully over the beds when a

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 137

year old, and drawing them to proper diftances. This perhaps
a gentleman's gardener of refledlion may be prevailed on to do,
but many nvirferymen will, I am afraid, hardly fubmit to making
•what they may think fo great a facrifice, as throwing av^^ay a
^reat number even of bad plants to procure a few good ones.

It has been an old difpute, which (lill fubfifts, whether there
are more forts than one of the Scots Pine or Fir, and 'tis com-
monly afferted, that the difference we fee in the wood when cut
dovrn and poliflied, is ov^'ing only to the age of the tree, or the
quality of the foil where it grew ; but this aflertion I am obliged
to believe is not juft, and proceeds from want of fufEeient obfer-
vation, as I have feen many Fir trees cut down of equal age in
the fame fpot, where fome were white and fpungy, others red
and hard, which to me appears evident, that there are two di-
flincl fpecies of them ; and indeed the difference of colour may
ealily be difcovered by any one who walks thrpugh a new-
prun'd plantation even of young trees. But having dwelt long
enough on the Scots, it now becomes neceffary to review fome
of the other and more beautiful kinds of Pines.

The fecond, third, fourth, fifth, fixth, feventh, and eighth
forts, may all be propagated after the fame manner. Thofe have
carroty deep roots with few fibres, which makes it indefpenfibly
neceffary to remove them at one year old, when their roots are
tender, and will more readily admit of being fhortened than
when older, very few of them fucceeding at removal from the
feed-bed above, that age. This being the cafe, you mud endea-
vour to make the plants as ftrong as poffible the firft year. The
feeds of thefe Pines do not rife near fo foon as thofe of Scots,

S

i?8 TREATISE on

and therefore they may with fafctv be Town a fortnight earlier
that is, about the beginning of March. Thus fowing them as
early as the fcafon will permit, is the only certain method of
procuring firong plants. The ground then being prepared in a
fliady well-flieltered fituation, fow the feeds in niallow drills
made with your hands, a foot afunder, and moderately thin in the
drill. This indeed will employ much more ground than fowing
them in beds, but the far better quality of the plants ought to
outweigh that confideration ; for, as mofl of the Pines come up
with heavy tops and llender bodies, they are equally fubjedl to
be dailicd to pieces by the winter's winds and. rains, as fpewed
out of the ground by the frofls ; but by this method of fowing,
the earth can be drawn up to the plants with a fmall hoe from
time to time, fo as to fecure them from all the fevcrities of an
ordinary feafon.

When the buds begin to fwell, next fpring, raife the plants,
cutting away a little from the extremity of their downright roots,
and obferve immediately to immerfe them in water and earth
fome hours, as direflcd for the Scots Pine ; then plant them in
a fheltered fliady border in drills cut out with the fpade, at
eighteen inches afunder, and feven or eight inches in the drill ;
water them at planting, and continue to do fo inoderately as tlic
weather requires, till you fee them in a free growing llate ; let
them remain here two years, taking care to keep the ground
clean and mellow in the furface, and pointing it over between
the lines in autumn and fpring.

Th e four laft mentioned kinds are fomewhat tenderer for two
er three years, but will afterwards bear the grcatcft fe verity of

FOREST-TREES.

J 39

our winters very well : I would therefore advife them to be
fown ill pots of line rich loofe earth, protecled from the fun in
fummer, and all violent rains for the firft year, but expofed to
the fun during the winter and early fpring months, under the
protection of a frame without glafles, over which a mat may be
thrown in fevere weather, which muft regularly be removed on
its becoming temperate.

Th e following fpring, as the buds begin to fwell, plant them
out either within an old frame without glalTes as formerly, or in
a bed arched over with hooos, to admit of being covered with
mats in bad weather. In thefc beds or frames, place them iu
lines, a foot afunder, and leven or eight inches in the lines ; for
five or fix weeks after planting, let them be fliaded from the mid-
day fun, till well eftabliilied, and in a free-growing (late, after
which they will require no attention but in ftormy weather, and
that the firil year only from their removal, as, in the month of
May the fecond year, the frames may be removed during the fum.-
mer, and replaced in winter, though not covered, but in the event
of a very fevere florm.

From thefe quarters all the Pines may be removed the fuc-
ceeding fpring, to where they are intended to remain for good,
in large plantations ; but for fmaller defigns, and an immediate
fl.ow, they may be tranfplanted with fafety, to the height
of fix or feven feet, and fome of them larger, if removed every
fecond year, and cultivated as here directed.

Th e firft mentioned feven kinds are inhabitants of the moun-
tains, and delight in a hard rocky foil ; tli^ four following forts
S 2

I40 TREATISE on

affedl a deep and moift ground ; and the New-England Pine, die
moil beautiful of all the tribe, loves a generous, deep, but not
wet land, either naturally protected from violent ftorms, or un-
der the covert of fome plantation, otherw^ays, as it advances in
height, it lofes its Ihining verdure, and becomes ragged and
unfightly ; but, interfperfed with other trees, in a foil it loves,
and at a proper diltance from them, it grows in this climate lux-
iiriantly, and will foon become a noble plant. It is the moft
patient of all the Pines in tranfplanting either young or old, as
its roots naturally tend lefs downwai'd, and produces abundance
of fpreading fibres. I have removed them at twelve feet high
wath the greatefl; fuccefs, though even thefe had not been culti-
vated as they ought for that purpofe.

Th e vifes of the timber of Scots Pine are univerfally known.
All the other kinds are clofer, harder, and more lading : But
that of the New-England is much more beautiful and valuable
than any of the forts ; it is of a darker colour, poliilies very
fmooth, and has fome rcfcmblance of the Cedar.

fOREST-TREES, 141

Chapter XXVI.
The fir TREE.

The Species are :

1. The Norway, or Spruce Fir Tree.

2. The black American Spruce Fir Tree.

3. The white American Spruce Fir Tree,

4. The Silver Fir Tree.

5. The Balmof Gilead Fir Tree.

6. The Hemlock Spruce Fir Tree.

TFIOUGH all the writci's on gardening I have read make
no material diftincftion in the fowing and future culture
of the Fir from the Pine tree, yet, to my certain experience, a
very different pradlice ought to be obferved, particularly in fome
of the forts, and that for the moft obvious reafons. The Pine
trees, the New-England only excepted, have downright roots
with few fibres. Thefe roots, at tranfplanting, muft neceilarily be,
reduced, which, if done after they beconae hard and woody, will
deftroy the greateft part of them. The roots of the Fir tree, on
the contrary, fpread near the furfiice, produce plenty of fibres,
and do not grow near the fize of the Pines in general the firft year ;
from whence, I think, nature plainly points out to us the propriety
of their remaining tv/o years in the feminary w'ith fafety, and
even advantage, which, to the Pines, from the circumflances men-
tioned, mufl prove deRrudlive : I fhall therefore defcribc the
praclice I have found mofl fuccefsful.

i^i

T R E A T I

About the middle of March, fow the firft, fccond, and third
forts on beds, in a iliady well-flieltered border, but much thinner
than the Pines, as they are to remain two years.

The three remaining forts do not rife by a fortnight at leaft
fo foon as thefe do ; and as they make very little progrefs the firft
year, all art and induftry fliovild be ufed to promote their growth
as much as poffiblc, otherways many of them will be fpcw'd out
of the ground, and the weaker plants entirely killed, if the fol-
lowing winter is fevere. The beft fecurity, therefore, againfl all
thefe common accidents, being, to fow early, let them be fown a
a fortnight fooner than the tliree preceding kinds, that is, by the
iDCginning of March, the weather permitting. The ground for
the feeds of thefe plants cannot be too rich a natural foil, or too
finely prepared ; it muft alfo be loofe and dry, which, if not of
that quality originally, mull be rendered fo, by mixing it with
find, and elevating the beds fix or feven inches above the alleys,
to draw away the moifture.

The Balm of Gllead, and Hemlock Spruce, are a little tenderei-
at firft than the other forts, and will be much aided in their
growth, if the beds are hoop'd over, and covered witli mats for
five or fix weeks after the plants appear above ground, both in
the middle of the day when the fun is warm, and at night
when the air is cold or frolly ; and, during that time, they will
require a gentle watering every fecond evening when it does not
rain.

At fowing all the kinds of Firs, neglecl not to clap over the
beds with the back of a fpade. This makes the furfacc fmooth
and level, prevents the feeds from being irregularly fcattered in

FOREST-TREES.

143

drawing on the earth with the I'akc, and is in fcvcral other re-
fpeCls of advantage.

As thefe plants bring up the huflc of the feed on their tops,
the fmall birds, who are very fond of them, will deflroy all
or the greateft part, if they are not guarded againft. Every gar-
dener has his own way of doing this ; but the beft method I know,
is to procure a parcel of old filhing nets, and fpread them over
the beds, fupported by cuttings of copfe-wood, or other prujiings
of trees, laid acrofs ftakes ; and thole nets are to be purchafed
at any fea-port town, for a mere trifle.

In the autumn after fowing, go over your beds, and, with
your fingers, carefully pick off all moiTy hard-crmted particles,
replacing them w ith an eqvial qviantity of the richeft beft pre-
pared Ibil ; over which fift Ibme chafF, or rather faw-duft that
has lain fome time and loft its firey quality. This will keep the
plants warm, and prevent the groiuid from fwelling with the
frofl, which, if it does, is apt to fpew them up : It will like-
ways be necefl'ary, in hard froll or violent rains, to throw a mat
over the two laft kinds, but regularly uncover them in mild
weather.

Ix the fucceeding fprlng, and during the months of May and
June, the plants will ftill be much invigorated by frequent wa-
terings, and in autumn let the beds be treated as in the former ;
for though the feedlings are from this time till fpring in a ftate
of reft, and can, from no cvdture, be affifted in their growth till
then, yet the mufty parts contracted on the furface, will, by the
winter rains, be waihed into the earth, which it will contami-
nate, and communicate difeafes to the plants, from which they
will flowly recover. This circumftance, though in general little

144 ■ TREATISE on

attended to, is yet of the grcatcfl importance to all fecdling

From the feed-bed, at two years old, in the fpring when their
buds begin to fwell, thefe plants may be removed, and treated
as has been diret^cd for the Pines of one year's growth ; but as
all the kinds of them will tranfplant, at a confiderable fize, with
the greateft fuccefs, when properly luanaged, I fliall add a few
lines on that fubjedl, as a nurfery of the fine kinds of Firs, eight
or ten feet high, would be a very valuable acquifition, either to
a private gentleman, or a nurferyman ; and few men of fortune,
I believe, would fcruple beftowing a little extraordinary expence
to cover a naked field, flicker a new planted garden, or adorn a
ncvf-buik houfe with fo goodly ornaments,

Th ese plants, being now four years old, mufl be tranfplanted
to another fpot of good land, and placed in rows two and a half
feet afunder and fourteen or fixtcen inches diftant in the i^ow ;
water them at planting, and continue it once a week, five or fix
times, when it does not rain, keeping the ground clear of weeds
in fumir.cr, and mellow by autumn and fpring digging, in which
iituation they may remain three years.

From thence remove them again in fpring at the ufual time,
fliortcning their ftraggiing roots moderately, and plant them in
rows four feet afunder and two feet in the I'ovr, to remain three
years longer..

If required larger, remove them again, and plant them at fix
feet afunder every way, to remain two, but not above three years
inore ; by which time, in good land, and under the culture here
dire(5led, the three fii'd mentioned kinds will be from fourteen

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 145

to fixteen, and the Silver Fir from ten to twelve feet high. Thus
managed, thefe trees will rife with fuch abundant balls of earth
about their roots, as will prevent their receiving the leaft injury
at removal, nor will their future growth be in the fmalleft degree
retarded by it. Particular diredions for their tranfplantation
would here be unneceflary, as the rules prefcribed for large En-
glilli Elm, and other deciduo\is trees, will anfwer for them, and
moft others, with refpe6l to making the pits, and preparing the
foil : Only it may be neceflary to obferve, that thefe, and other
large Evergreens, in general require more frequent tho' gentler
■waterings, at and foon after tranfplanting, than the deciduous
kinds ; — to which I mufl add, that they ought not to have a
fingle branch taken away at this time, but, the year before, fhould
be reduced to their defired form, which is only pruning off their
under-branches a foot or eighteen inches above ground ; and,
after having flood two years longer, they may be further redu-
ced, by annually taking away a tire of branches, till their trunks
are cleared the intended height, which I think (in woods for
timber only excepted) ought never to be done above ten or
twelve feet from the furface, their greatefh beaiity confifting in
the graceful wave of their luxuriant branches from the top to
near the bottom.

The three firft-mentioned Spruce Fii's will grow tolerably
well in dry, gravelly, or rocky ground, but much more affecfls
that which is deep, where, though very coarfe, and barren in the
production of vegetables, they will grow freely.

The Silver Fir, which I have ever thcxight the moft magnifi-
cent tree of all the Evergreen tribe that our climate pi'oduces in
full perfection, it is in vain to plant in hot, dry, or rocky
T

146 TREATISE ON

fiUiations, where they commonly not only lofe their top-fhoots,
bnt their under-branches foon become ragged, and, in place of
that lively fhining verdure peculiar to tliem in a foil they aiTed:,.
they become of a pale languid hue ; nay I have known trees of
them above twenty years planted out in fuch foils, entirely de-
llroyed by a hot dry fummer. At the fame time they are in other
refpedls amongft the lead delicate of any plants in the choice of
their food, as the largeft and moil flourifliing trees of them I
have ever fcen over this ifland, in general grow on four, heavy,
obflinate clay, of all different qualities and colours ; and though
for ten or twelve years they do not advance fo fafl as feveral of
the other Firs and Pines, yet in twenty they will outgrow them
all, and continue that advantage till they arrive to their greateft
magnitude.

These trees, like the other more common forts intended for
timber only, fhould not, as they commonly are, be planted clofe
together in thickets, but inquire a free circulation of air, other-
ways their intermingled branches will deflroy one another.

The Balm of Gilead Fir, though it is defcribed as growing
to a large fize in America, and is ranked in our catalogues with
the talleft trees, yet I never faw them in this country of any
great magnitude. It requires a generous deep-feeding foil, and
fheltered fituation, to which, from its flngular beauty and ele-
gance, it is jviffly intitled, and it claims our culture and care.

The Hemlock Spruce Fir is a pretty plant, but delicate, and,
to fucceed well with us, muff have a good foil, and warm fitua-
tion : It will likeways be improved by tying its leading flioot, to
a ftake annually as it advances.

FOREST-TREES.

47

Though I have direded the fpring as the mofl proper feafon
for planting Firs and Pines, which, for feedhngs, and tender
forts, it is, — yet I niuft beg the Reader's further indulgence a
little, in recommending what will be found the greatefl improve-
ment ever was pradifed on moft of the Evergreen fpecies, if ge-
nerally attended to. The experiment is cheap and eafy, and I
want no more than the trial to have it approved by all the
planters in Great Britain. It is no more, than, in place of the
fpring, to plant all the hardy kinds of them that have arrived
to a foot in height and upwards in Augufl, as foon as they
have perfedled their flioots. Many thoufands, for a fucceflion of
years, have I planted at that feafon, without once having failed
in my mofl fanguine expectations ; but before that trial, in un-
kindly fprings, and dry fummers, I have loft great numbers,
though all poflible care had been taken ; and I dare fay, every
extenfive and ingenuous planter will acknowledge his cafe has
l>een fimilar to mine. Though experience is the only unerring
guide in operations of Gardening, yet there appears good natu-
ral reafons in favour of this feafon : The fhoots of the plants
are now ripened, — the ground is ftill warm, and pregnant with
T-egetation, — by working the earth, that vegetation is as it were
artificially pvit in frefh and more vigorous motion, — rain at this
time is feldom or never wanted ; — all which circumftances con-^
joined, muft prove highly favourable to new-planted trees.
From this happy temperature of the earth and feafon, the trees
ftrike root immediately as if in a hot-bed, and have nothing to
oppofe them till the froft comes on, before which they are fufE-
cicntly eftablillied, and ftrengthened to reflft its power. To all
thefe advantages, tlie expence of watering in the fpring and
fummer months is faved, the winter rains having provided a-
gainft the common danger of fufTering from dry v/eather ; and
T 2

143 TREATISE on

laftly, this is, properly fpeaking, faving time, being a much
more convenient feafon of the year than the fpring for an exten-
five plantation, as then, from the great variety of operations to
be done both in the gardens and fields, it is with difEculty they
can all be duly attended to, and properly executed.

I NOW conclude this (I am afraid too tedious) difcourfe on
Firs, with obferving, that I have often been lixrprifei the Scots
Pine or Fir fhould be the only Evergreen indifcriminately ufed to
any great extent in every foil and fitaation, thought incapable
of producing the better kinds of Foreft-trees. I acknowledge
they arc applied v/itli great propriety in mountainous, rocky, "
chalky, fandy and gravelly places ; but in hungry deep till, and
clay, the Spruce Fir will much furpafs them in growth. And
this biing a tree of much greater beauty, more valuable tiniber,
and propagated with the fame facility. Why do we not encou-
rage it in ample plantations where the foil invites ? as few plants,
would contribute more to our pleafure and profit, in many ex-
tenfive, though now cold and gloomy, trails of land. For Ever-
green hedges in cold fituations, to Ihelter gardens or other
plantations, I know no plant on earth fo proper as the Norway
Spruce Fir : They are flrong fences, grow amazingly faft, ilieep
or cattle do not annoy them, and, by clipping them ia moift
weather, when they begin to Ihoot in the fpring, thin at top,
and gradually thicker to the bottom, they will continue many
years beautifvd and verdant.

All the kinds of Firs are injured by lopping the old wood,
and therefore ought to be pruned when the branches are yoimg
and tender. The bed feafon for pruning them, is as early in
autumn as the fap is at reft.

FOREST-TREES.

149

Chapter XXVII.
The cedar TREE.

T^he Species are :

1. The Cedar of Libamis.

2. The red Virginian Cedar.

3. The white -berried Virginian Cedar.

4. The Cedar of Bermudas.

5. The Tree, or Swedifh Juniper.

'HP HE cones of the Cedar of Libanus were formerly brought
-*' to Britain from the Levant ; but the Englifli trees have
fince produced abundance, and thofe of a better quahty than
the foreign. The late Mr Philip Miller, (whofe memory I fhall
ever revere as my worthy friend, and moft indulgent communi-
cative mafler), who, from his naturally acute and ingenious ob-
fervations, as well as having four of the fineft plants in
England under his diredlion, now growing in the Phyfic-garden
of Chelfea, muft have had accefs to know the nature of this tree
better than mofl men, — juftly obferves, That they are more apt
both to produce and ripen their cones in hard than mild winters ;
and of the Englilli producing more and better feeds, I have
certain demonflration, having, from his bounty, annually re-
ceived a prefent of a confiderable quantity of his cones for above
twenty years, which never failed, though thofe from abroad,
purchafed at a high price, often did.

These noble and magnificent trees at Chelfea having been for
feveral years under my almoft daily view, I coukl not help con-

I50 TREATISE on

cciving a high regard for this plant ; and from the favourable
opportunity I had of procuring its cones, (then not fo plenty as
now), I have raifcd many more of them than any man ever did
in Scotland, and wa.s the firfl; who made them frequent in this
part of the kingdom ; from wliich circumftances, and making
different experiments on their cult\ire, I imagine I am able to
direct it properly ; nor indeed does that require any great pene-
tration, as, after three or four years growth, they are very hardy.

Th e way to get out the feeds, is by fplitting the cones thro' .
the centre with a Iharp piece of iron length-ways, and picking
them out with your fingers, which may eafily be done, after ex-
pofing them for fome hours on the hearth before a warm fire.
If the cones are two years old, they will emit their feeds more
readily than thofe lately gathered, and the feeds be equally good.

Th e beft foil to raife thefe plants on, is rich old cow-paflure
earth, which, if not naturally of a light quality, mix with a
fourth or fifth part of fea-fand, or that taken from the fides of
rivulets, well blended together for fome months before it is ufed.
I have mentioned this tree as very hardy at three or four years
old, neither is it delicate from the beginning ; but at the fame
time, it is abfolutely neceffary to give them abundant nourifh-
ment at firfl, in order to make fair and vigorous plants ; for if
they once become dwarfilh, ftunted, or lofe their leading fhoot,
no art will afterwards rellore them to a good figure : Therefore,
the raifmg a number of plants, which any tolerable gardener
may ealily do, is not the only thing required ; it is raifing them
of a healthful comely figure, and this cannot be done without
fome fkill and attention. In order to effecfl it, obferve the fol-

FOREST-TREES. 151

Having prepared the foil as before mentioned, in a flickered
fituation expofed only to the morning fun, place an old hot-
bed frame thereon, and put in it the depth of feven or eight
inches of this mould, in which fow the feeds the beginning of
March, in fhallow drills made with your finger, a foot or four-
teen inches afunder. About a fortnight after fowing, the wea-
ther being dry, give them a very gentle fprinkling of water every
fecond evening while it continues fo. In about fix weeks the
plants will appear above ground, when, if the nights are frofly,
which is often the cafe at this feafon, let a mat be thrown over
them in the evening, and taken off next morning or forenoon,
when the fun difpels the froft. After this time, the weather be-
ing mild and dry, the waterings muft be regularly though gen-
tly continued ; and now it will be fafeft to do it in the mor-
nings till the froft is over, after which they will receive more
benefit from it in the evenings.

These Cedars come up, and continue the firft year, with re-
markably tall and thin bodies, and with heavy tops, inclinin'^
to hang downwards : They have downright roots, with few
fibres ; and their roots penetrate lefs into the earth at firft
than any plant I know, in fo much that I have feen great num-
bers of them laid flat, and beat entirely out of the ground with
the rains, even in the fummer months. To remedy this com-
mon misfortune, no method is equal to drawing up the mould
about their ftems, at fundry times as they advance in growth,
which will not only preferve, but much invigorate the plants.
This being attended to, they will require no further care till
next feafon, but covering the frame with a mat in violent rains
or fevere froft, never omitting to uncover thari in mild wcatlisr.

1-2 TREATISE ON

Tin: following fpring, prepare another fpot in tlie fame man-
ner as for the feed, but let the compoft foil be twelve or fourteen
inches deep, having cut off the points of their downright roots
with a very fliarp knife, which, being tender, would other-
ways tear their fibres ; immerfe them in fuch palp as has been
diredled for the Pines and Firs, about half an hour, and plant
them in beds eighteen inches by a foot afunder. If thefe beds
are hooped acrofs, and a mat thrown over them during the heat
of the day, till their roots have ilruck, and their leaves begin to
expand, it will much accelerate their growth ; and during any
ievere florm the l\icceeding winter, this ought flill to be repeated.
It will likeways be neceflliry, the firfl fummer, to draw a little
earth to the ftems of the plants, as mentioned for the feedlings,
and to give them frequent gentle waterings during the growing
feafon. By next fpring the Cedars will be out of danger, the
hoops and mats will be of no further ufe, and the plants require

These plants being now three years old, will be hardy
enough for removal to a common nurfery, in any ordinary foil
or fituation, where, about the beginning of April, they fliould
be planted in lines two and a half feet afunder, and fourteen or
fixteen inches diftant in the line. At tranfplanting, continue to
reduce the downright roots, and fhorten the fmaller fibres mode-
rately, which will occafion their producing many more new
roots, fo as afterwards to rife with bulks of earth clofely adhe-
ring to them ; — it will be necefiary to fteep them in palp as for-
merly, to water them at planting, and to continue it every fourth
or fifth evening for fix weeks, the weather being dry. Here let
them continue two years, when they may be removed to the pla-
ces in which they are meant to remain j or, if defired larger for

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 1,-3

-fiiture defigns, they may again be tranfplanted to another quar-
ter, and placed in rows five feet afunder and three feet in the
row, to continue three years longer; and they will afterwards fuc-
ceed equally well as the youngell: plant, by feafonably repeated
waterings.

Th e above culture I recommend as beft for private perfons,
who have them to remove only from their nurfery to the adjoin-
ing fields ; but for nurferymen, who often fend them to a great
diflance, I would advife a parcel of them to be put in pots nine
inches diameter, at three years old, where, after keeping them
three years longer, they may be fhaken out of thefe pots with
their whole bulks of earth entire, and, being wrapt in a piece of
mat, may with fafety be tranfported to the remotefl corners of
theilland, and will keep feveral months out of the ground with-
out fufFering any injiiry.

When the plants begin to grow freely, the leading fhoot al-
ways inclines to one fide : To remedy this, you muft thr\ifl in a
flake by the fide of each plant, and tye the leader clofe to it, till
you have got them to a confiderable height, otherways their
branches, which naturally expand a great way, will prevent their
growing tall.

To whatever height you intend clearing the trunks of thofe
Cedars, (which ought never to be great, as much of their beauty
confifls in being cloathed with their noble verdant boughs to
near the furface), let the branches be cut off when young and
tender, as no tree I know refents lopping their old wood fo
much. Mr Miller, in the Gardener's Didionary, mentions two
U

1 54 TREATISE on

of his four trees having been fo vifcd, to admit the rays of the
fun into, a green-houfe, whereby they were fo mtich checked, as,
in iabove forty years growth, to be Httle more than half the fize
of the other two :. And I myfelf have experienced a circvimflance
entirely fimilar ; for, having planted two Cedars about twenty-
four years fince, then three feet high, which for fixteen years
'grew amazingly fall:,, and promifed to be noble plants, an igno-
rant gardener imadvifedly cut off feveral of their oldeft under-
branches, fmce which they have advanced little or nothing in
height, have loft their leading flioots, and become ragged and
biilhy.

Though thefe trees, when young, require all the culture and
flielter here diredled to make them handfome and vigorous, yet,
when five or fix years old, no plant will better endure our moft
fevere feafons, or grow in more forbidding, poor, and hungry
foil, the largeft trees of them now knov/n in the world being
in the eoldeft and moft expofed places, covered great part of the
year with fnow ; from whence, it cannot be doubted, but that
tliey might become a great ornament, and valuable improvement,
if generally planted in Great-Britain.

Many pages have been wrote by learned men on the virtues
of the wood of this tree, as, that it is proof againft all putrefac-
tion of animal bodies, — that it yields an oil famous for prefer-
ving books and writings, — that the great Sefoftris King of Egypt
built a vcftel of Cedar,, two hundred and eighty cubits long, —
that in the temple of Apollo Utica, was found frefli tim.ber near
two thoufand years old, — and that the ftatue of the Goddefs in the
Ephefian temple was of this material, as was moft of tlie timber^-
v/ork of that glorious ftrudurc, (^v. <6'c>.

F O R E S T - T R E E S. J55

Th e red and white Virginian Cedars are eafily propagated,
by fowing their berries in the fpring on beds of good mellow
light foil, expofed only to the morning fun, and otherways fliel-
tered by trees, hedges, or walls. Thefe feeds will remain a year
in the ground before they appear ; during which time, the beds
muft be kept cloan, and the furface fweet and loofe : It will
likeways be neceffary, in extreme drought, to give them now and
then a gentle fprinkling of water, which w-ill keep the berries in
vigour, as otherways I have known many of them periih, and the
remainder come up weak, late, and irregular in the fpring, after a
very dry fummer. As the plant* make finall progrefs the firil year,
they may remain two years in the feed-bed ; they muft, both the
fummer feafons, be frequently refrelhed with water, and let the
furface of the beds in autuii>n be drefled as has been dirccled
for other feedlings.

Th e fpring following, remove them to another well-flieltered
fpot, of the fame quality as for the feed, and plant them in lines,
eighteen inches afunder, and nine or ten inches diftant in the
line ; give them the fame kind of culture formerly diredled for
Evergreens of that age, and let them remain two years.

From thence remove them to another quarter of the nurfery,
in any ordinary foil and fituation, cutting away the extreme
parts of their roots, with any of the crowded or ill-placed
branches, and plant them in lines, three and a half feet afunder,
and two feet in the line:; let them be watered at planting, and
frequently after it in dry weather, till paft mid-fuinmer, keeping
the ground entirely clean ; and here they ought to remain thrca
-years, when they will be of a proper fize to be planted o\it for good.
U 2

156 TREATISE ON

I WOULD likeways advife nurfcrymen to pot fome of thefe
plants, as diredled for the Cedar of Libanus, to tranfpoi't to any
great diflance ; they are alfo very proper to mix with myrtles,
annual flowers, and other potted plants, to adorn the borders of.
the flower-garden or court.

Th e Tree, or Swedifli Juniper, may be treated in iill refpe<5ls
as the red and white Cedars.

The Bermudas Cedar is more delicate and (lower of growth,
when young, than the forts mentioned ; it will therefore be ai;
improvement te fow their berries in pots, to keep them in the
fhade during the fummer months, and under a frame the follow-
ing winter. In the fpring, when the feeds begin to vegetate,
plunge the pots into a moderate hot-bed till the month of July,
from whence they will advance more in one feafon, than two iu
their natural itate, and make better plants.

The fucceeding fpring, plant each of them in halfpenny pots-,
and again plunge them in a hot-bed till July, when, in mild
weather, they may by degrees be inured to the open air, and
next fpring pvit into penny pots, where they flaould remain two
years, when they ought, once more, either to be fliifced into two-
penny pots, or planted in a well-flieltered place of the nurfcry
for three years, by which time they will reflfl; our fevqreft winters
very well. Though this procefs may to fome appear trouble-
fome, it is only i'o in a very trifling degree to a good gardener,
v.'ho has proper conveniencies for executing his buflnefs ; and
the Bermudas Cedar, being a plant of great beauty and elegance,
is well worth beflowing a little extraordinary pains in bringing
it foon to pe:;fec5tion.

FOREST. TREES. 157

The two Virginian kinds, and Swedifli Juniper, v,'ill grow
by cuttings, from which I have raifed many handfome plants :
This may cither be done the beginning of April or end of Auguft,
the latter of which feafons I have foimd mod fuccefsful. Be-
ing then provided with branches of one or two years growth,
cut or tear them afunder at the joints, leaving a knob of the old
wood at them, and clear off the leaves or fmall twigs as far as
the cuttings are to be buried in the ground, which, if they
will admit of it, may be about fix inches ; plant them in lines
eighteen inches diftant, in a fliady border of rich loofe earth, and
refrefli them with water as the feafon. may require. The fol-
lowing fummcr, let the ground between the earth be kept loofe
and mellow, by frequent flirring with a trowel ; water them
every third or foiirth evening in dry weather, and the fecond
fpring they will be fufEciently rooted to tranfplant to the quar-
ters of the nurfery, there to be treated as the feedlings.

The Bermudas Cedar will likeways grow by cuttings, tho'
not fo freely in the open ground ; but ten or twelve of them put
in a penny pot, and plunged into a hot-bed of tanners bark, will
root liberally in one fummer ; and if taken out of thofe pots the
fucceeding fpring, put in feparate ones of the fame fize, and a-
gain plunged in the hot-bed another fummer, they vrill be larger
plants than die feedlings at four years old, and may afterwards
be treated as has been dire^led for them.

I HAVE often heard gardeners, of more than common ingenui-
ty, boaft they have raifed abundance of good plants from cut-
tings of the Cedar of Libanus. This knowledge I have been
dull or unlucky enough not yet to arrive at. I have tried every

158 TREATISE ON

method for this purpofe I could devife, but never could procure
nor ever faw a healthful fliapely plant of them fo raifed : I can
make them live, but in plants as well as animals fomething
more than bare exiflence is furely wanted.

There are various other forts of Cedars, but the rules here
laid down for the culture of thofe mentioned are fuihcient to lead
to the whole, by only obferving, that fuch feed& or plants as are
brought from warm and temperate regions, require more aid
and protecUon for fome time, than others from more inhofpitable
climes.

In the culture of all the Cedars, as well as that of Libanus, let it
be an invariable rule, to prune and reduce them to their proper fonn
when the branches are young, from whence their wounds will
immediately heal ; but which if negledled till old and woody,
fo great an eft'ufion of fap will flow from them in hot weather,
as to render the trees weak and unhealthy, if it does not deftroy
them.

There is perhaps no fpecies of trees fucceeds in a greater va-
riety of foils, or in more oppofite climates, than the Cedars do :
They grow in all extremes, in the moill Barbadoes, the hot Ber-
mudas, and the cold New-England ; they tlirive in the bogs of
America, and the mountains of Afia. We have now many good-
ly thriving trees of them in Britain, and, from the almofl in-
credible value of the wood, joined to die extraordinary beauty of*
the plants, we have every encouragement to make more cxteniive
and generaii plantations of them.

FOREST-TREES. 159

■i
Chapter XXVIII.

The cypress TREE-

The Species are :

1. The common \ipright Cypress Tree.

2. The male-fpreading Cypress Tree.

3. The Virginian or deciduous Cypress Tree.

4. The American Cypress Tree, commonly called the

White Cedar,

THE firft, fecond, and third forts, are propagated by fowing
their feeds in fheltered fhady borders of fine rich loofe
earth, about the middle of March, which in five or fix weeks
will appear above ground, when they muft be regularly watered
in the evenings of mild dry w^eather, every third or fourth night,,
and this continued, giving them little at a time, till the middle
of Augtift ; and if in the beginning of winter fome faw-duft i&
fifted over them, as direcfted for the Firs, it will much contri-
bute to their prefervation in the event of fevere weather.

The following fpring, thefe plants, which, well managed, will
be fix or feven inches high, muft be removed to the fame kind
of foil and fituation they were in. the feminary, their downright
roots fhortened, and planted in lines eighteen inches afunder and
eight or nine inches in the line, where, as their roots naturally
incline more to run deep than fpread on the furface, and as they

i6o TREATISE on

arc plants of free growth, they fliould remain no more than one
-}ear, when they ought to be upwards of a foot high.

Therepore, the fucceeding fpring, plant them in the com-
mon nnrfery, in lines three feet afunder and eighteen inches in
the line ; water them at planting, and repeat it once every week,
the weather being dry, till they have ftruck root and begin to
grow freely, when they will require no further trouble than
keeping them clean, and pointing over the groimd between the
lines in autumn and fpring.

Having flood in this nurfery two years, they may be remo-
ved to the places where they are defigned to remain, which may
be fully inore proper at this age than wdaen older. Thefe trees lofe
their greateft beauty when much pruned ; but their tops being
very heavy, and branches flexible, the winds take much impref-
fion on them, in fo much that I have known quantities blown
entirely oiit of the ground that were moved about fix feet high
two years before : It is therefore better to give them a firm
eflablilhment in the earth while the plants are young, and when
there will not be the fame neceffity of taking away fo many of
their boughs as they would otherways require.

The method mentioned is the eaficfl and quickeft way to
raife large quantities of thefe plants ; but as it is no uncommon
thing for a hard winter to deftroy whole beds of them, at one,
and even two years old, it becomes neceflary in fome meafure to
provide againft fuch misfortunes, by fowing part of yotu- feeds
in pots.

FOREST-TREES. 161

Fou this pnrpofe, being provided with foil of the quality for-
merly mentioned, fow them at the fame time in your pots, and co-
ver them about a quarter of an inth deep ; place them in a fhel-
tcred fituation, fo as to receive only the morning fun till ten or
eleven o'clock ; keep them regularly though moderately watered,
and in Odlober remove the pots under a frame, fo as they may
be proteded in fevere weather.

The fucceeding fpring, fhake them out of thefe pots, and
pknt them in others of fourteen or fixteen inches diameter, each
of which will contain from fixteen to twenty plants : Let them
be placed in the Ihade till in a free growing Hate, in winter re-
moved under a frame, and afterwards treated as directed for the
others of the fame age.

Th e American Cyprefs is fomewhat tenderer and flower of
growth than the fore-mentioned forts, and they continue a year
in the ground before they appear ; I would therefore advife all
thefe to be fown in pots, and treated the firfl feafon as the other
forts : But the fucceeding fpring, when the feeds begin to vege-
tate, having cleared the furface of mouldy particles, and replaced
that by fifting on frefli earth in proportion, plunge the pots into a
moderate hot-bed till June, and afterwards gradually inure them
to the open air, placing them fo as to be protecled during the
hardfliips of winter.

Th e following fpring, put fixteen or twenty of thefe in other

pots, in the fame manner as the former kinds ; only plunge

them again in a hot-bed for about two months, and proted them

during the fucceeding winter as before. In thefe pots they may

X .

102 TREATISE on

remain another year, without any more trouble than keeping
them clean, and refrefliing them, with frequent waterings ; after
which they inay be removed to the nurfery, and planted in linrs
three feet al'under and eighteen inches in the line, where they
fliould remain three years, and then be tranfplantcd to the places
where they are meant to continue for good.

These trees require a particular addrefs in pruning them ;
for if they are trim'd clofe up to any confiderable height, their
bodies will be fo flender as to bear no proportion to their
weighty tops : The beft method therefore of ordering them, fo
as both to preferve their beauty and accelerate their growth, is,
to cut away from the top to near the bottom all ill-placed forked
branches, (of which this plant produces many), referving only, at
proper diftances, fuch as are vigorous, and radiate diredlly from
the body. This is an eafy operation, and will require very lit-
tle repetition, the tree not being difpofed to put out young
branches from the old ftem. By pruning them judicioufly in
this manner, their thick branchy trunks will counterpoife their
heavy heads, and render them able to refift the winds.

The firfl and fecond forts afte6l a dry, fandy, or gi-avelly foil ;
the third, in Virginia, is generally found in moid fvvampy pla-
ces, and fometimes in conftant (landing water ; but the American
fort I have always found fucceed bell in a good deep-feeding
earth, neither too wet nor too dry.

The Cyprefs has not only a fine effetfi: when mix'd with (tho'
not crowded near) other trees, but is of mod plants the propcrefl
to place round or near buildings, where their upright pyramidal

FOREST-TREES. 163

growth has a very piclurcfque appearance without ob{lrU(fling
the view, and their dark-green leaves make a moft agreeable
contrail with the white of the building. The Italian villas owe
no fmall part of their beauty to the proper diftribvition of many
Cyprefs trees, adjoining to the temples and other ornamental
works of architedlure in their gardens, as we fee by the land-
fcapes of thofe villas.

Like that of the Cedar, many are the encomiums bellowed,
both by antient and modern writers, on the virtues of this tree,
and the excellency of its wood, a few of which only fliall here
be mentioned. It is recommended for the improvement of the
air, and a fpecific for the lungs, as fending forth great quanti-
ties of aromatic and balfamic emiffions ; for which reafon, the
antient phylicians of the Eaflern countries ufed to fend their pa-
tients trotibled wuth weak lungs to the illand of Candia, at that
time abounding with thefe trees, where, from the effeds of the
air alone, few failed of a perfect cm-e. The vail armadas which
Alexander the Great fet out from Babylon, confifted only of Cy-
prefs, as did the doors of St Peter's church at Rome, which laP.ed
from Conftantine the Great to Pope Eugenius the IVth's time,
eleven hundred years, and being then changed for gates of brafs,
were found entirely frefli. It was in coffins of Cyprefs the A-
thenians ufed to bury their heroes, and the Mummy, chells
brought from Egypt are moftly of this material. That lafling
bridge, btult by Semiramis over the Euphrates was of it, and
Plato chofe to write his laws on it, in preference to brafs itfelf,
for its diuturnity. In Ihort, it is by ail writers allowed to be a
moft valuable timber, is proof againft all putrefaflion, and the
very chips or cones of it, being burnt, extinguilli moths, and ex-
pel gnats and flies.

X 2

i64 -1' Jl E A T I S E ON

Chapter XXIX,
The arbor VITyE, or, TREE of LIFE.

The Species ore:

1. The common Arbor Vit^e.

2. The Chinefe Arbor Vitjs. «

3. The Arbor Vitje, with ftrip'd leaves.

HP FIE firfl; of thefe may be propagated either by feeds, layers, or
cuttings ; but as the feeds lye a year in the groimd before
they appear, which makes that culture tedious, and as the layers
and cuttings make very good plants, that method in general is
gather to be chofen.

If you increafe them by layers, let that operation be perform-
ed in the month of March, watering them, more or lefs as the
weather requires, during the fpring and fummer months, which
will much affift their rooting abundantly, and by the following
fpring they will be fit to take off.

If they are to be raifed from cuttings, the culture diredled for
the red and white Virginian Cedars will beft agree with them,
and therefore need not to be repeated.

The plants having got fufBclent roots, tranfplant them to a
border fcreen'd from the mid-day fun, in lines two and a half

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 165

feet afunder and one foot in the line ; water them at planting,
and continue to do fo once in five or fix days during the f]n-lng
and fummcr months, the weather being dry ; keep the ground
clean and loofe about them, and point it over in autumn and
fpring ; in which lituation let them remain two years.

From thence remove them to any ordinary qviarter of the
nurfer'y ; cut away a little of the extremities of their roots, Vvdth
{\^h as are ill-placed and crofs each other ; plant them in Hues
three and a half feet afunder and two feet diftant in the line,
ordering them as in their former quarters, and let them continue
Ixere three years, when they will be of proper fize to tranfplant
where they are to remain : But if large plants are wanted at a
future period, to make an immediate appearance in fingle trees,
in groves, or in the wildernefs, they may again be removed to
another nurfery, and planted about five feet afunder every way,
to (land two, three, or four years lo.nger, this tree being as pa-
tient of removal when large as any Evergreen, which 1 fpeak
from experience, having tranfplanted them at ten and twelve
feet high with all the fuccefs that could be defired..

The Chinefe Arbor Vltce^ though afterwards a hardy plant, is,
when young, a little more delicate and flower of growth tlian the
other, neither does it root well by layers in lefs than two years,
or take freely by cuttings in the open ground ; and therefore it
may be advifcable to few fomc of their feeds, in doing of v. hich,
the culture dire<5led for the American Cyprefs, is in all re.^cds
the bed I can prefcribe for them.

It naay likeways be proper to raife part of them by layers,
which, having flood two years, will be rooted. In tlic begin-

i66 TREATISE on

ning of April, let them be planted in penny pots, and then, to
forward their growth, plunge them into a moderate hot-bed of
tanners bark till the beginning of Augufh ; after which, inure
them bv degrees to the open air, and place them under fome pro-
teclion during the fucceeding winter. The following fpring, take
as much earth out of the pots as can be done without inj\iring
the roots, replacing it with frefh rich mould ; and in thefe pots
let them remain a fecond year, watering them in dry weather e-
very third or fourth day, when they may be taken out with bulks
of earth clofely adhering to them, and afterwards treated, in re-
fped of foil, as the common kind ; but, to preferve their beautiful
verdure unfullied in a I'evere winter, I would advife them to be
planted (though not near, yet) under the protection of other
trees.

This tree may alfo be propagated by cuttings, putting ten or
twelve of them in a penny-pot, plunging them into the bark-
bed as for the layers, and afterwards giving them the fame ma-
nagement.

The fort with (Irip'd leaves may be increafed by layers or
cuttings as the common kind, b\it mufl be planted on thin dry
land, to preferve their variegation ftrong.

For the pruning thefe trees, I can prefcribe no better method
than has already been mentioned for the Cyprefs, to which they
have a near refemblance, and with which they will perfedly
agree.

Th E common kind will grow in very indifferent groimd, but
mofl affeds a deep found earth, where they will foon make great

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 167

progrefs ; and though in winter their leaves are of a dull tan-
ny colour, yet, in the fpring and fummer months, they are a very
chearful green, and the plants have a moft agreeable negligent
appearance.

The great value of the wood for bowls, boxes, cups, mortars,
peflles, and various works of the turner and cabinet-maker, are
generally known, and being a tree that bears our feverefl win-
ters, and foon arrives to a middling ftature, it juftly claims a
place, and the more frequent ufe of it would become an improve-
ment in our extenfive plantations.

The Chinefe fort, from the obfervations I have made, will
not, I believe, grow to fo great a magnitude in this climate as the
former ; but being amongfl the mod beautiful of all the Ever-
greens, it well deferves encouragement in the garden and wil-
dernefs.

i68 TREATISE on

Chapter XXX.
The ilex, or EVERGREEN OAK TREE.

The Species are:

1. The Olive-leav'd Evergreen Oak.

2. The narrow-leav'd Evergreen Oak, with ferrated leaves.

3. The HoUy-leav'd Evergreen Oak.

4. The round fmooth-leav'd Evergreen Oak.

THERE are feveral other varieties of this plant ; but thefe
being only feminal, are not wrorthy of being enumerated.

I know no tree more difficult to tranf plant than the Ilex, as
the roots of it, when not interrupted, run as ftraight dow^n into
the earth as a carrot, and with as few fibres ; fo that for hedges,
or large plantations, I would advife their acorns to be put in the
places where they are defigned to remain,

, If for hedges, let a border be well trenched, levelled, and
raked the beginning of March, and make a iliallow drill with a
fmall hoe, placing the acorns in it at the diflancc of three or
four inches, and covering them about two inches deep, keeping
the furface mellow and clear of weeds. Thefe plants make very
little pcogrefs the firfl feafon, and will not then bear being cut
under ground, but will make large amends ever after, by luxu-

FOREST-TREES.

:&9

riant growths in any tolerable foil they affedl. After (landing
two years, carefully draw out, fo as not to injure what remains,
the plants that are too thick, leaving them from a foot to fifteen
or fixteen inches diftant. In the following fpring, the hedges
will require fomc corredlion : At this time go over them, firft:
pruning ofF any fpreading or crofs-hanging branches near their
tops, and afterwards let their fides be clip'd to the bottom with
fliears ; but this muft be cautioufly done at firft, and not too
clofe to their bodies ; after which, by digging the borders for a few
years, and fliearing the plants annually, obferving always to
keep them light and thin in the tops, there is no plant I know
will fo foon make warm and lofty hedges, to the height of forty
or fifty feet, or fo much improve a cold climate, and promote
the growth of other trees.

If you intend large plantations of thefe trees, cither by them-
felves, or mix'd with others, cultivate the ground well by labour,
and put four or five acorns in patches together, at fuch diftan-
ces as you intend the plants fliould ftand. The fecond April af-
ter, draw all but the moft thriving one ; and the third, you may
begin pruning off any ill-placed branches, and part of the others
where too thick.

The plants of two years old you have drawn, having fliorten-
ed their roots, and plunged them in palp for fome hours, may be
committed to a Ihady border in the nurfery, and laid in lines
two feet afunder, where, in a kindly feafon, and by giving them
frequent gentle waterings, fome of them will fucceed, and in this
fituation they may remain three years.
Y

lyo TREATISE on

I HAVE been not a little diverted, to hear writers on this plant
fagely advifmg to raife their feedlings with bulks of earth. It
will indeed require much care to do a thing nature has in a
great meafure denied, as bulks of earth cannot poflibly adhere to
plants deflitute of fibres, which thofe, when young, without the
affillance of art, almofl totally are ; to culture, therefore, we
mull have recourfe to raife them with bulks.

For fmaller plantations, and to be provided in plants that
will remove with fafety, fow thefe acorns in drills two and a
half feet afunder and three or four inches in the drill, on good
generous foil ; let their growth here be promoted all you can by
feafonable watering, and keeping the ground clean, fweet, and
mellow : The fecond fpring after, with a fpade, clear away the
earth from one fide of the line of plants, about five inches deep,
and, with a llaarp knife, at that depth cut the roots acrofs, at the
fame time clap your left hand on the plants, to prevent their
being in the leaft difturbed, and immediately replace the earth that
was thrown up, prefling it gently down with your hands. This
pra(5lice ought to be repeated for three or four years, making
them annually thinner as they increafe in fize ; and, from its
being well performed, I have had great fuccefs in removing
numbers of thofe trees.

You may likeways raife the Ilex, by fowing their acorns in
pots, where, after remaining three or four years, they may be
Ihaken out with the whole bulk of earth about them, and plant-
ed with abfolute fafety where they are to remain : But this is an
expenfive and tedious method, as fuch will make little progrcfs
compared with thofe in the open ground ; befides, the roots of

FOREST-TREES. 171

thefe plants, raifed from feeds in pots, and that muft remain fo
long in them, being all comprefTed in one clufter, from which
they cannot afterwards be dilintangled, will never produce fuch
luxuriant trees as thefe that from time to time have had their
roots properly pruned, and room to extend themfelves in the
open ground. Notwithftanding, from what I have faid of
this practice with the Ilex, I would not by any means be
tmderftood to reiled on potting many young and tender plants,
whofe roots are not fo obllinate, but may be increafed, and, by
proper pruning, difpofed in pots as well as otherways ; fo that
in many cafes, forpajticular trees, it is of inuch importance in
their culture. ^-,^,^^^,.. ^^rft.n^r.;

These trees, being eftabliflied in the ground, are (unlike many
of the Evergreen tribes) very patient of cutting, fo that, from
three or four years old, they ought to be regularly pruned, and
brought to a handfome form, which they will eafily receive. I
had lately in my property five of the largefl Evergreen Oaks in
Scotland,' which {landing near a fouth wall, when about twenty
years old, began to darken it, and tho' I would fooner have for-
feited the advantage of twenty times as much walling, than hurt
thefe trees, I made the experiment of pruning one of them that
I had on purpofe let remain almofl in the ftate of nature. This
experiment I tried with great feverity, by cutting away all the
large branches from the trunk, and feveral of the principal arms
where the tree divided ; from whence I could difcover no mate-
ria! check in its future growth, but the wounds healed fuddenly.

After the plants drawn from the lines that v.'cre cut below
ground have flood three or four years in the nurfery, and the
Y 2

172 T R E A T I S E ' o N

iintranfplanted remainder as long, remove them to their proper
ftations for good, as, confidering their being fo very hard in the
root, and unwilHng to pufh out frefh ones, any further procefs
in the nurfery way will be unneceflary. Let them be plentifully
watered at removal, and that regularly attended to once a week
in dry weather, during the warm fummer months.

Though the attentive culture of this tree in fuch a climate
as ours, when difpofed in proper fituations, inuft be produ(5live
of many advantages, yet I would not advife their being planted
near the houfe or gardens, as in April and May they cafl their
old leaves, which occafions a prodigious litter, and are in that
chearful feafon ragged and gloomy.

Th e land they chiefly affeifl, from the relation of reputable
writers, is a hazelly loam. This is a fpecies of earth few plants
will difagree with, but is very far from being univerfal ; and
luckily the Ilex will fucceed in a variety of lefs defireable foils :
Therefore I mud affirm, from experience, that fuch as are meant
for tranfplantation, though they ought to be cultivated in a ge-
nerous inould, which will foonefl procure them fufficient roots to
bear removal, yet thefe roots being procured, (which will not
fail if the direcflions here given are attended to), they will after-
wards grow freely in very ordinary land, in that particularly
which is deep, though very coarfe and flubborn (but not wet)
moft vigoroufly. They are indeed a little delicate at firfl, but
foon become amongft the hardieft trees ; and thefe I have men-
tioned lately in my poffeflSon, ftand on a lean hungry gravel,
that had been long and conftantly employed in railing nurfery
crops, a circumftance unfavourable to their vigorous growth.

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 173

If the land you intend for large plantations, or to inclofc with
hedges of them, is poor or fliff, I would advife, after digging
or trenching it well according to its qviality, to lay feme rich
mould on the poor, and fome loofe on the ftiff furface of the
borders for hedges, or other fpots allotted for the timber-trees,
the beginning of winter, and point it llightly in before fowing
in April.

Th e wood of the Evergreen Oak makes excellent flocks for
tools, mallet-heads, axle-trees, wedges, paliftidoQS, — and fupplies
the greateft part of Spain, and the fouth of"Era}>pej.-5v|th pj^e befj:
and mod lafting charcoal yet known. ^~,^ rfoffi-^ .^vr-.i- k'-.

174 TREATISE on

Chapter XXXL
The cork TREE.

The Species are :

1. The broad-leaved Evergreen Cork Tree.

2. The narrow-leav'd Cork Tree, w^ith fmoodi edges.

TH E bcft Englifli writer on this fvibjed;, has diredled thefe
plants to be propagated in all refpedls like the Evergreen
Oak. About London indeed, which, from a variety of concur-
ring circumftances, is a very different climate from any other
part of Great-Britain, that pradlice may anfwer ; but in the re-
mote counties of England, and in Scotland, to my certain expe-
rience, it will not fucceed, fo as foon, if ever, to make thriving
plants ; for they make very little progrefs the firft fummer, and
the following winter generally fpews them out of the ground, or
otherways deflroys them ; But in the manner I fhall here direi5l,
I have raifed many vigorous plants of them.

Try the quality of your acorns as has been dirccfted for the
common Oak, that, from planting no unfound feed, there ma) be
no blanks in the crop. In the beginning of March, prepare a
fliallow box, or boxes, according to the number of plants you in-
tend to raife ; let the bottom of the boxes be bored with holes
half an inch diameter, at four or five inches afunder, and cover-
ed with oyller-Ihells or broken tvles ; put five inches deep of

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 175

fine rich light mould in them, on which place your acorns a-
bout four inches afunder, and cover them with two inches more
of the fame kind of mould ; place thefe boxes on a moderate
hot-bed, of which tanners bark is the bell; ; and in ten or twelve
days after, when you find the earth beginning to dry, give them
a very gentle fprinkling of water, which repeat every fourth or
fifth day. In a month after fowing, the plants will begin to ap-
pear, when the quantity of water muft be increafed, how much,
or how frequently, the condition of the earth will beft diredl you.
In this hot-bed the boxes inay remain till the beginning of July,
from whence they may be taken, and placed in a Ihady fheltered
fituation during the remaining fummer months j but obferve,
before removing them froin the hot-bed, that they be gradually
inured to bear the open air, by taking off the glaiTes in mild or
molft weather, when the fun is not fcorching, and late in the
evenings, or all night, when the feafon is quite temperate and
ferene. On the approach of winter, let the furface of the boxes
be cleared of all mufly particles with your fingers, and replaced
with a greater proportion of the fined rich mould ; after which
place them under frames till the fucceeding fpring, and only co-
ver them with the glaffes in violent rains or hard frolls.

From the middle of April to the beginning of May, as the
weather fooner or later becomes favourable, let thefe boxes be
removed to a well-fheltered, but fhady place in the nurfery, and
placed on ftones or logs of wood fome inches above the furface
of the ground, which not being obfervcd, is apt to occafion fuch
a ftagnation and corruption in the mould, as frequently to deftroy
the whole plants, or at bed to ftunt them beyond recovery. Du-
ring the fummer months, let them be regularly refrefhed with

176 TREATISE ON

water as the fcafon requires ; and in the autumn, (though it
may often not be necclTary), I lliould chufe to make fure work,
by removing them under the protection of a frame, which may
be covered in the event of a very rigid winter.

In the beginning of April following, the plants being now two
years old, muft be taken out of the boxes, when, from the in-
terruption the ftraight roots have met with in not running
downwards, by carefully undermining them with a trowel, they
may generally be raifed with earth adhering to them. This
being done without wounding the fmallefl fibre, put them in
penny pots filled with rich loofe mould ; plunge the pots into a
moderate hot-bed only for fix w eeks or two months, till they
have puflied out frefli fibres, and are in a brifk growing (late.
When this is the cafe, harden them gradually, and remove the
pots to a north border during the remaining part of the fummer.
From this time thefe plants will require no more than common
culture, and, having flood two years in the pots, may be fliaken
out of them with their whole bulks, and either planted where
defigned to remain for good, or in the nuriery two or three
years more, for futui'e defigns, from whence they will remove
with eafe and fafety.

Though this procefs, to a lazy gardener, may feem trou-
blefome, yet it is not very expenfive ; and I am certain I
have not directed the leall fuperfluous labour for thefe plants in
-this country.

The Cork Tree, in the places of its native growth, is defcri-
bed by many travellers to grow in bleak mountainous fituations,

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 177

and poor, rocky, fleril foils, with their roots running above the
furface ; bvit thefe foils and fituations muft have Ibme happy-
animating qualities belonging to them, unfelt in our northern
regions, where we muft make them much more familiar to us
than they yet are, before we pretend to accommodate them with
fuch lodgings ; and therefore, to have them grow freely, and to
any confiderable magnitude, we muft give them a good folid ge-
nerous foil, and a fituation defended, either by nature or art,
from the cold eafterly and northerly winds.

The ufes of cork, which is the bark of the tree, need no ex-
planation. That of its body is hard, lafting, and beaxitifiil,
and, like the Ilex, makes excellent charcoal.

lyS TREATISE on

Chapter XXXII.
The holly TREE.

The Species are :

1. The common Holly, with red berries.

2. The fmooth fliining-leav'd Holly, with red berries..

3. The yellow-berried green Holly.

4. The white-berried green Holly.

5. The green Hedge-hog Holly.

6. The yellow-blotch'd Hedge-hog Holly.
J. The gold-edg'd Hedge-hog Holly.

8. The filver-edg'd Hedge-hog Holly.

9. The yellow-blotch'd Holly.

10. The white-blotch'd Holly.

1 1 . Broderick's Holly.

12. Eales's Holly.

13. Sir Thomas Franklin's Holly.

14. Hertfordlhire white Holly.

15. Bridgman's Holly,

16. LongflafF's beft Holly,

17. Bradley's beft Holly.

18. Wife's beft Holly.

19. The Britifli Holly.

20. Bagfhot Holly.

21. Glory of the Eaft Holly.

22. Glory of tlie Weft Holly..

FOREST-TREES. 179

23. Ailct's Holly.

24. The Union Holly.

25. Fine Phyllis Holly.

26. Painted Lady Holly.

27. Fxiller's cream Holly.

28. Milk-maid Holly.

29. Capel's motled Holly.

30. Patridge's Holly.

31. Mafon's copper-colour'd HoLLY,

32. Box-leav'd Holly.

33. Whitmell's Holly.

HOLLY Berries are ufually gathered at the fame time with
Haws, early in autumn, foon after turning red, but they
are by no means ripe at this time, and Ihould hang on the trees
till December at foonefl ; or, were it not for the birds, who
greedily devour them, I would not advife pulling them till Fe-
bruary or March, during which time they will improve in naa-
turity.

The common method of raifing thefe plants, is by fowing
their berries whole, either as foon as they come from the trees,
or the following fpring ; but this is a very ill practice.

These berries contain foiu' feeds in each, from whence, by
fowing them whole, if the feeds were good, there muft neccifa-
rily be four plants interwoven in a ciufter together ; and it is
great odds, if, in dividing them when raifed, two or three of
the four are not torn afunder, and the remainder much injured.
Z z

tSo TREATISE on

Therefore, to prevent tlie ill confequences arilmg from
that pradice, as foon as your berries "are gathered, throw them
into a tub with water, and rub them between your hands till
you have divefted the feeds of their thick glutinous covering,
which is foon executed with little trouble. This being done,
the good feeds will link to the bottom, wdien you mud pour off
the water, with all the pulpy fubftance that floats, and fpread
the feeds on a cloth in a dry airy place, rubbing them between
your hands often, and giving them a frella cloth daily till the
feeds are feparatcd and quite dry. If this is done in autumn
or winter, mix the feeds with land, and keep them from wet till
fpring ; but if they have not been gathered till fpring, let them
be immediately fown.

Any time the weather is moft feafonable in March or April,
will be a good time for fowing them, which mvifl be done as re-
gularly as polTible, and much thinner than is ufually pra(5lifed,
on a fpot of well-prepared rich loofe mould, in beds three and a
half feet broad, with alleys of eighteen inches between them,
covered three quarters of an inch thick ; and as thefe feeds will
not vegetate till the fucceeding fpring, let the ground be kept
clean, fweet and mellow, till autumn, Avhen the furface of the
beds muft be loofened with a fhort-teeth'd rake, and a little fine
frefh mould thrown over them, which may again be raked off in
the fpring, before the feeds are in any fenfible motion.

Th e following year, in the beginning of April, draw out a
confiderable number of your Hollies, then one year old, and leave
th€ remainder fo thin as they may receive all the influences of
air, fun, and rain j let thefe drawn be planted in a fliady border,

F O R E S T - T R E E S. i8i

in lines eighteen inches afunder and five or fix inches in the line,
giving them frequent moderate waterings, and pointing over the
ground in autumn and f'pring. The reafon of allowing fo large
a fpace to thefe plants, which are, and will be for two years very
fmall, is to give room to dig the ground between the lines, as
the beft means both to promote the growth of the plants, and to
encourage the fide-roots to fpread, fo as to rife with bulks. In
this lituation they inay remain three years.

The plants reinaining in the feed-bed, being two years old,
ought to be removed ; and having cautioufly fliortened their
downright, and fmoothed the extremities of the fpreading roots,
plant, and otherways cultivate them in the fame manner as the
former, only in this nurfery they ought to continue but two
years.

In tolerable foil, and a protecfted fituation, thefe Hollies may
be planted for hedges where defigned to remain, cutting them
over by the ground, and watering them ; but in poor unflielter-
ed land, they will fucceed much better, by giving them more
ftrength from age and further culture.

Therefore, to do this effectually, remove thefe plants to
another quarter of well-prepared frefli earth, and plant them in
lines three feet afunder and eighteen inches in the line. At this
time let them have a plentiful watering, keeping the ground as
formerly, and here let them continue untouched for cv\'o years.
The third fpring, throw out a trench of earth from one fide of the
plants, and with a fpade made very fharp, cut clean over all the
downright roots at ten inches or a foot below the furface, and

i82 TREATISE on

likeways fliortcn all flraggling ones that extend far from the
fides ; then replace the earth, and dig it well about them. Hav-
ing flood here another feafon, cut them over by the ground,
and the following, which will be the fourth year, they may be
removed where you intend, without tlie lofs of one in a thou-
fand.

The beginning of April, having prepared the borders where
you defign planting your hedges, let the Hollies be carefully
raifed with bulks of earth about their roots, which will natural-
ly adhere to them if the culture dii-e<5led has been obferved.
There will be no occafion for much pruning of the roots at this
time, only with a iharp knife cut off and fmooth any that have
been broken or bruifed with the fpade in railing thein ; keep
them as lliort time as may be out of the ground, and plant diem
at eighteen inches dillance, the fime depth they formerly Hood ;
give them a plentiful watering, which ought to be repeated once
in ten or twelve days, for three or four times, if the weather is
dry. The plants having been cut over the year before, will have
made flioots from a foot to eighteen inches high ; thefe you may
reduce to an equal height, about fix or eight inches above the
former year's cutting ; and thus you have a hedge formed, that
requires no further trouble than keeping the roots of the plants
clean for a few years, and annually clipping them, which, in an
ordinary foil, v/ill, in ten years, defeat the attempts of the ftrong-
eft bull to injure it.

1 HAVE likeways planted the Holly and Thorn mlx'd in hed-
ges with mod defireable fuccefs, every third or fourth plant be-
ing a I'lolly. The Thorns, for four or five years, will advance

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 183

fcifteil:, after which the Hollies will annually gain ground, and at
laft totally extirpate the others, whence, by planting both, you
will fooneft have an appearance, and afterwards, by an aprecable
mctamorphofis, have an entire Holly hedge.

Having mentioned the Holly only for hedges, of which it
makes the (Irongeft, warmed, moft lafting, and beautiful, for
outward fences, of any plant this climate produces ; yet I am far
from meaning to confine it to that formal purpofc alone, as I
know none will more adorn, or be otherways more iifcful, not
only in the garden and wildernefs, but the more extended woods
and forefts. For thefe purpofes, at the laft removal directed for
the hedge plants, let fuch a proportion as your defigns require
be feledled from them, of the tallefl and clcaneil llioots, of
which cut avv^ay all but the leading one, and plant them in ano-
ther nurfery of frefh earth, in lines five feet afunder and two
and a half in the line ; cultivate the groimd abovit them by
^^SS^^E ^^d drefTmg it, and annually prune the trees to their
proper form ; in which fituation they may continue feven or
eight years, ralfing part of them from time to time as vour plan-
tations require..

The general negled of cultivating this beatitiful plant, both
in tlae hedges and woods, is moft amazing, when its many ufcs
land good qtialities are confidered ; and I can account lor this
difregard in no way but one, which is, not attending to its pro-
per culture, from ■whence many of them ufual.y fail at planting
out, and Avhat remains makes little progrefs for a long time.
Their common treatment is removing them from the feed-bed
(where they are ahnoft univerfally too thick) at tv. o, three, and.

i84 TREATISE on

fometlmes four years old, and dibbling them, (flill iin moderately
thick), where they often continue four, five, or fix years, if not
demanded while they are worth the having. By this means their
roots are bad, their bodies tall and flender, and their tops heavy,
lb that the gentleil breeze of wind will fliake them to their foiua-
dation, from which every fibre they pufh out is iinmediately de-
ftroved, and the plants mufl of ccurfe perifli : But by following
the pracftice here directed, the ^^ inds make no impreflion on them,
nor is there in nature a hardier tree, one that roots better, is
moi-e patient of cvitting both in the root and body, or that may
be planted with more undoubted iuccefs, from one to twelve or
liftcen feet high.

The Holly tree, in a foil it affetfts, will grow upwards of fifty
feet high, and even to a confiderable fize, on as great a variety
of foils as any plant I know. It refufes not the pooreft, hotj
fandy, gravelly, and rocky ground, nor the coldeft fpoutty clay
and till ; and its beautiful fhining leaves, almofl covered with rich
Icarlet fruit, which the fevereft winter does not difcolour, makes
it in a particular manner, at that feafon, a moll grateful and de-
llrablc fight.

Tho' I have jufhly reported this as one of the hardiefl plants,
when it has been properly cultivated, and once got good footing,
yet where hedges of it are planted on extremely poor and hun-
gry land, particularly what is HifF, if a fmall mixture of rich
fancly or gravelly foil (but by no means dung) were mixed in the
borders, it would much promote their rooting at firft, which
being once put in a free-growing flate, they will afterwards i"e-
quirc no further arTifiauce from art.

FOREST-TREES. 185

I MUST not here omit taking notice of a very wrong, though
prevailing ctiftom, which is, cHpping thefe hedges the beginning
of winter. This has various ill cffe<5ls, as it not only robs them
of their beauty and verdure in that gloomy fcafon, by cutting
away the frelli tender flioots, and mangling the leaves, but like-
ways expofes the naked hearts of the plants to all the rigour of
the florms, unprotedled as they are of their natiiral cloathing.
Let this, therefore, never be performed later in the feafon than
July, after which the young flaoots will again flielter the inward
parts before the fevere weather comes on.

Any defcription I am capable of giving in praifc of Holly
hedges, will fall infinitely fliort of the impreffions every man
of tafte muft conceive, who fhall fee old fences of them that
have been properly trained. Sorry I am, I cannot gratify the
public in many examples of this kind ; but happily there is one
in Scotland that will juftify the higheft encomiums of the
ablefh writer on that fubjecfl, which is to be feen at Tyn-
ningham, in the county of Eafl-Lothian, the feat of the Right
Honourable the Earl of Hadinton, and to a view of them I ap-
peal, as the clearefl. evidence of the incomparable beauty, lall-
ing ftrength, and magnificence of Holly hedges : But how much
nobler an appearance this plant will make ftanding iTUConflrain-
ed by fhears, detached and at freedom in the v>foods, loaded as
they annually are with berries, (which clipping prevents), is
eafy to imagine. Thefe hedges were planted by the late Earl of
Hadinton, the greateft, mod knowing, and moft fuccefsful plan-
ter of his time, and who, to all appearance, from a very poor
and unpromifing foil, expofed to, and clofe upon the great Ger-
man ocean, has raifed very extenfive and flourifliing plantations
of the moft valuable Foreft-trees. What I have fiid on the
A a

i86 T R E A T I S E o N

hedges at Tynningham will not, I hope, be deemed a digreflion
from my fubjccl; tho' probably it may, that I would here hum-
bly recommend to the prefcnt Earl, the proprietor, that, as an ex-
ample to this and future ages, he would pleafe allow, at leaft fome
part of thefe hedges (which at prefent I think are not lofty in
proportion to their thicknefs and ftrength) to run up to twenty-
five or thirty feet in height ; cut thinner and thinner as they ap-
proach the top, which in a few years would make them the moft
glorious fight of the kind that can be conceived, and this may
be done without in the fmallefl degree impairing their ftrength.

Th e great variety of variegated Hollies for the wildernefs or
Evergreen garden, are likeways all highly worthy our attention,
not clip'd or reduced to any exacfl form, but, after having been
pi'operly prvmed, to increafe their flature, growing in their na-
tural luxuriancy of branches and fmit. The variegation of trees
in general, no. doubt proceeds from fome weaknefs or difeafe ;
they are commonly dwarfifh, and when planted in ftrong land,
lofe much of their beauty, and often turn plain : But in the
Kolly it is quite otherways ; they grow to a large fize, and the
moft generous foil does not in the leaft diminifli the mixture of
their colours, but makes them more brilliant; fo that the various
kinds of them, difpofed with good tafte, afford, at all feafons of
the year, a gay and refrcfliing entertainment.

Th ERE have been many direcflions given, with much folemnity
and affurance of fuccefs, for variegating Hollies from their feeds,
all which that I ever read or heard of, with many experiments
of my own, I have tried ineffedually ; from whence I can fafely
conclude, they are all quackiih impolitions, and that, to make

FOREST-TREES. 187

good plants, they can only be increafcd by budding or graftino-
them on the plain green kind, in both which ways they will
readily fucceed ; but their variegation by other means, is a fport
in nature no art has as yet been able to imitate.

I HAVE raifed the different kinds of Hollies from layers, and
even from cuttings : But I recommend neither ; they are not only
extremely tedioxis methods, but I never was able to make good
plants from them.

The timber of the Holly is exceeding hard, and of all
flrong wood the whiteft : It is ufeful for many lading pur-
pofes ; the mill-wright, turner, and engraver, prefer it to any o-
ther ; it makes the befl handles and {locks for tools, flails,
bowls, bolts for doors, nay they even make .hinges of it inftead
of iron, and it is fo heavy, that, like iron, it finks in water.

A a 2

i88 TREATISE on

Chapter XXXIII.
The yew TREE.

The Species are :

1. The common Yew Tree.

2. The Yew Tree, with a broader and more fliimng leaf,

3. The Yew Tree, with ftrip'd leaves.

THE firfk and fecond forts are indifcrimniately propagated
to'Tether : They may be raifed by fowing their berries in
beds three and a half feet broad^ with alleys eighteen inches be-
tween them, on any fpot of well-prepared frefh ground. If this
is done the beginning of winter, as foon as the berries are
ripe, having firft divefted thein of the pulp in which they are
inclofed, fome of them will appear the following fpring ; but
as thefe will be much tlie fmaller part, to have a plentiful and
regular crop all appear at the fame time, I rather advife the
feeds to be mixed with earth till fpring, and managed in the
feed-bed for two years, and three more in the nurfery, as has
been direded for the Holly.

The Yew may likeways be propagated by cuttings of one or
two years growth, planted in a fliady border the beginning of April
or end of Auguft ; let them be laid in lines eighteen inches afun-
der, covered five inches deep, and watered at planting ; rub off the
leaves as far as the cuttings are buried, and, in two years, they

F O R E S T --T R E E S. 189

will be well rooted, and fit for removal. The branches being
torn afunder at the joints, are better than plain cuttings,

Th e plants from feeds being five, and the cuttings two years
old, (though dill fniall), remove them to another nurfery, fliort-
ening their downright roots, and lay them in lines two feet afun-
der and nine or ten inches in the line, to remain three years.

From thence remove them again, and plant them in lines four
feet afunder and two feet in the line, giving them a plentiful
Watering, which fliould be repeated, if the weather is dry, once
a week, three or four times ; and here they may continue, if the
land is rich, four, but if poor, five or fix years, during which
time they may be pruned, fo as to elevate them for trees, or
clip'd into the form of hedges, fuitable to your intentions. Let
digging between thefc plants, at lead in the fpring, never be
omitted, as nothing will fo much contribute, not only to increafe.
their growth, but multiply their roots, .

If defired larger, you may once more remove them to another
quarter, and plant them at eight feet diftance by fix, continuing
the fame culture as before; from whence you may remove them,
any time required, within feven or eight years.

No plant is more patient of being tranfplanted old than the
Yew ; it naturally produces great quantities of fmall roots, to
which the earth adheres fo clofcly, that, with plentiful waterings,
you may at once form compleat hedges of feven or eight feet
high, that will not in the fmalleft manner be retarded in their
growth by removal, but have the fame frcflmefs and verdure the
firfl feafon they ever had.

igo TREATISE on

There Is not in nature a hardy plant fo toufile and obedient
to the fliears as this, or that makes fo clofe and warm a defence
againfl the cold piercing winds, (the Holly only excepted, which
making a great deal of litter in the fpring, is not fo proper for the in-
ward divifions of the garden), and therefore none comparable for
making fmall inclofures in the kitchen ground or nurfery, to
protedl and forward vegetable crops, or yoimg aiad delicate
trees and fiirubs. Of what mighty advantage fuch fences
would be to men of fortune beginning their improvements, may
eafily be imagined : What pity then is it, and how blameable
are nurferymen whofe circumflances will admit, that they do
not afford thefe aids, either for the public good, or their own
private intei'eft !

With all thefe advantages, I miift acknowledge the Yew a
very michearful plant ; and the old pradlice of planting great
nvimbers of them, cut in no lefs variotis than ridiculous figures,
in the covirts and fronts of honfes, made theih doubly mouinful,.
which no doubt has increafed the difregard for fome time ilaown
them : But for the purpofes mentioned, they cannot be too much
encouraged ; neither do I think they ought to be entirely baniih-
cd the wildernefs or foreft, where a few of them in their natural
foi-m, interfperfed with others, will appear with a reverend tho'
gloomy magnificence, and are the finefl foil imaginable to the
reft of the plantation, which, contrafted with them, will appear
with additional chearfulnefs and luftre.

I HAVE formerly mentioned the ill confequences of clipping
Holly hedges in autumn. This ought to be yet more particular-
ly attended to in the Yew, which will fuffer more by that prac-
tice, in fo much that I have known, in fevere winters, whole
hedges of them become quite brown, and fo weakened, that no-

FOREST-TREES. 191

thing bvit cutting them cloie to the trunk will again rcflore their
thicknefs and verdure.

Th I s tree, when fliooting in fpring, or loaded with ber-
ries in autumia, is noxious to cattle, which therefore, at thele
feafons, are to be kept from approaching them ; but our fpecies
is not the true Taxus, or Yew of the Ancients, to which they
afcribed fo many deadly qualities. Mr Evelyn, in his Silva,
mentions a tree of it growing in his time in the Medical Garden
at Pifa in Tufcany, of fo baneful a nature, that the gardeners
could not clip it for above half an hour at a time, from their
heads aching exceflively. The leaves of this tree are defcribed to
be more like the Fir than our Yew, and this account of it is
given by Dodlor Belluceus, Prefident of thefe gardens. I acknow-
ledge the emiflions of our Yew, when clip'd, to be no regale,
but luckily it has not the malignant effeds of the Tufcan.

This tree grows to a large fize, is hardy in refpe(fh of cold,
and will fucceed in the mofl barren and inovmtainous fitu-
ations, where the greateft ilorms will make no imprefTion on it.
Since the ufe of bows has been laidafide, the wood is in lefs efti-
mation than formerly ; but it flill gives a high price for the ca-
binet-maker. Polls of it put in moift ground, will continue
found for ages, and for axle-trees no wood is fo flrong and laft-
ing ; to which I fliall only add one very material quality more,
though not related by any writer fo far as I know, and which
is, that tlie wooden parts of a bed made of Yew, will moft cer-
tainly not be approached by bugs. This is a truth, confii'mcd
to me by the experience of trees I had cut down and xifed my-
fclf in that way.

192 TREATISE o n

Chapter XXXIV.
The laurel, or CHERRY BAY TREE.

The Species are :

I. The common Laurel.
2.. The white-flrip'd Laurel,

3. The yellow-ftrip'd Laurel.

4. The Portugal Laurel.

THE common Laurel is to be propagated either from feeds
or cuttings ; but as thofe from feeds make the moft tmi-
form (lately trees, and fooneft produce their fruit, fo, where they
arc required of large ftature, I would advife that method which
I flaall firft defcribe :

In the beginning of winter, foon after tlie berries are ripe,
fow them in a fhady border of well-prepared frefh loofe mould,
in beds three and a half feet broad, with alleys of eighteen
inches between them, and cover them an inch and a half, or two
inches deep. In the beginning of the following March, before their
vegetation, rake off as much of their covering as may be done
without difturbing the berries, and replace it vv^ith frelh earth
to die depth of about three quarters of an inch. About the
middle of April, when the feeds will be in a growing flate, the
weather being dry, and not frofly, refrelh them witli freqtient

F O 11 E S T - T R E E S. 193

gentle waterings in the morning ; and continue this, more or lefs, '
during the fuinmcr months, as the feafon fliall require, changing
the morning to evening's watering as foon as the danger of the
frofts is ova'.

The fucceeding fpring, the ground being good, and the for-
incT lummer having been favourable, as foon as their buds be-
gin to fvvell, remove them from the feminary to the nurfery, and
lay them with the fpade in lines two feet afunder and nine or
ten inches in the line, the fame depth they formerly flood ; wa-
ter them at planting, and if yovi repeat it three or four times at
the dillance of ten or twelve days, the feafon being dry, it will
much forward their growth : Let the ground between the rows
be pointed over in autumn and fpring, and cut away any crofs
lateral branches during their abode here, which ought to be two
years only. If thefe berries have been fown in poor land, the
plants of courfe will have made fmall progrefs ; in that event,
and that they are not too thick, they may remain in the feed-
bed two years.

To raife them from cuttings, plant them in a lliady border
of moift (not wet) earth, in lines two feet afimder. The begin-
ning of April, or middle of Auguft, let the cuttings be a foot or
fourteen inches long, one half of which fliould be buried in the
ground ; let the whole leaves be rub'd off, which other-
ways generally wither and hang on great part of that feafon,
and from thence taint the plant. Here they may remain till the
fecond April following, giving them the fame culture as the
feedlings.

B b

94

TREATISE

With refpedl to cuttings of thefe, and all other trees, I mufl
here take notice of one circumftance I have never read in any
author, or ever feen attended to in pradlice, but which is of the
higheft importance in the culture of every plant raifed from
them ; and that is, indifcriminately taking all branches of a
proper age and fize, without confidering the manner and difpo-
fition of their growth : But nothing is more certain, than that
a clean perpendicular flioot will produce a ftraight handfome
plant, an ill-formed bruihy one continue its original likenefs,
and thofe that fpread and hang over in a horizontal way, will
ever after continue to grow in that diredlion. I have planted per-
haps as great a number of cuttings, and of as many various
kinds, as any man of my age has done ; and after having confider'd
what I thought was the order of nature, I determined to try this
experiment, and, for a fucceflion of years, planted the three dif-
ferent kinds mentioned in feparate lines, when, after many years
growth, the diflinction was as perceptible in the trees, as in the-
branches hanging on their mothers ; fo that what the poet fays

of education " Juft as the twig is bent, the trees inclin'd."

may here be applied, and is at leaft as vifible in trees as men.
This leads me to obferve, that both, authors and gardeners in
general make dillin<5lion, and give feedling-plants of all kinds
a great preference to cuttings. That many plants are better be-
ing raifed from feeds than propagated in any other manner, I
know experimentally to be true ; but that feveral kinds, which
root freely, are little, if any thing inferior, when the cuttings are
properly chofen, I alfo know ; and the general obfervation made
to their difadvantage, is owing to overlooking their quality at cut-
ting them. Is it not ftrange then, that we have not been univer-
iklly warned to attend to a circumftance fo fecmingly confiftent
with reafon and nature ? But I return to tlic further cultiu-e o£
the plants.

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 195

The feedlings and cuttings may now be treated in the fame
manner, and removed to another nurfery, where, having llior-
tened and cut away all ill-placed roots that crofs each other, and
likewife pruned off fuperfluous branches, carefully prcferving
and encouraging the principal leading fhoot, plant them in lines
four feet afunder and two feet diflant in the line ; take care of
cultivating the ground as formerly, and prune them annually in
fuch a manner as will moft elevate them in the pyramidal form :
In this nurfery they may continue three, or not exceeding four
years. I have fpoken hitherto only with regard to fuch as are
intended for tall flandard trees ; but here let it be obferved, that
fuch as are meant for covering of walls, forming hedges, or
other fuch purpofes, may either be applied in thefe ways from
the former nurfery, or trained here fo as at once to anfwer your
future defigns. This tree is commonly dwarfed and disfigured
by letting it grow rough too long, after which they are not to
■be redreffed or brought to a proper figure, being much injured
.by cutting their old wood.

For making large plantations, thefe trees will now be of a
competent fize ; but if a referve is wanted for diflant defigns,
remove them to another fpot, and plant them in the quincunx
order, at fix feet afunder every way, obferving the former cul-
ture ; where, after ftanding two years, they may be removed
with fafety five or fix years longer.

The two forts with ftrip'd leaves may alfo be incrcafcd by cut-
tings ; but their variegation being very faint, in a luxuriant foil
they will foon turn quite plain, and ought therefore to be plan-
ted in a poor, hungry, dry fand or gravel. In order to blend
their colours better than they naturally are, make them more
B b 2

196 T R E A T I S E ON

glaring, and of longer continuance, remove them annually in
poor land for five or fix years, budding a richly-variegated leaf
on the gi-een, or rather a variegated ftock, which will much
brighten, and alfo longer preferve their colours, than if raifed
from cuttings.

The Portugal Laurel will not rife to half the magnitude of
the others, nor is it fo eafily reared in the pyramidal form, but
is a beautiful and elegant plant, of a very chearful Ihining ver-
dure. It may be propagated either by feeds, layers, or cut-
tings, as the former, but, when young, are fomewhat more deli-
cate, and will be improved by a higher culture, better foil, and
more fheltered fi.tuation for four or five years, after which 'tis
abundantly hardy.

Th e beauty of the common Laurel is hardly known amongft
xis, having formerly been mangled on walls and in hedges, or
clip'd to buflies with fhears, which, from the largenefs of its
leaves, is of moft plants the leaft proper to ufe in that man-
ner : It will grow to the height of between forty and fifty feet,
and fucceed in very poor barren foil. Of all the Evergreens fa-
miliar to this climate, I have ever efteemed it amongft the moft
graceful : It has all the beauty of the Orange tree without its
fruit ; and I cannot conceive a richer appearance in nature, than
a number of lofty Laurels, that have been properly trained,
planted near a houfe, either in fingle trees, in groves, or inter-
iperfed with other Evergreens in the wildernefs way.

It unites perfcdlly well, by grafting or budding it on the com-
mon black Cherrv, and, from that, is confidcrably increafed in
magnitude, and rendered yet more hardy.

FOREST-TREES.

197

Chapter XXXV.
TheBAY tree.

The Species are :

1. The common Bay Tree, with male flowers.

2. The common fruit-bearing Bay Tree,

3. The broad-leav'd berry-bearing Bay Tree.

4. The gold-ftrip'd Bay Tree.

' I 'HERE are feveral other fpecies of the Bay tree, but being

-*• tenderer plants, commonly potted and kept in the green-

houfe during winter, tliey are foreign to the defign of this Treatife.

The three firft mentioned forts may either be propagated
from feeds or layers, and will make good plants in either way.
Their berries are commonly ripe the end of January, or begin-
ning of February, when they ought to be gathered and prefer-
vcd in dry fand till the beginning of March. The weather then
being favourable, or as fbon after as it becomes fo, prepare a
fliady border of rich, loofc, undung'd foil, made fmooth and
fine with the rake, and well protected by hedges from the north
and eafb winds ; here drop the berries in lines fifteen inches
afunder and about fovu' inches in the line, fifting over them an
inch thick of the fiacft and richefl mo\Ud you have. As foon as
you perceive the plants begin to heave up the earth, refrcfn thciu

X9S TREATISE on

frequently, but mcxlerately, with water, in the mornings
when cold, but the evenings of mild weather, and continue
to do i'o all the fummer months ; clear the ground of all
inufty particles in autumn and fpring as dire6led for other
feedlings, and let them remain here two years, watering the
fccond fummer (though more plentifully) with the fame atten-
tion as the firft, it being of the utmoft confequence to promote
the vigorous growth of this plant in its early ftages, which, be-
ing then ftarved from want of proper foil and culttrre, will be-
come hide-bound, and hardly ever after make a ftraight hand-
fbme tree.

Such as you intend to increafe by layers, may be laid down
in March, or Augufl, the latter of which is much the befl fea-
fon, as thefc done in March will be but indifierently rooted by
the fucceeding fpring ; but the others will be prepared by the
earth to 3'oot vigoroufly early next feafon, and by tlie fecond
fpring make flrong healthy plants.

Th e Bay will alfo grow by cuttings, the young fhoots being
torn afunder at the joints, and planted in a fhady border ; but
by this method, in tlie open ground, their advance will be very
fmall, and require Handing four years at leaft before removal,
from whence they grow thick and brufliy, nor ever make fo
handfome plants as either the feedling or layers ; but I have
raifed thoufands of them in frames to the greatefl advantage,
and with much facility, as follows : In the beginning of April,
prepare a moderate hot-bed of tanners bark, and cover it eight
inches deep with fuch foil as diredcd for the feedlings. In this
plant the cuttings five inches deep, and eight or nine inches

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 199

afunder, rubbing ofF all their leaves ; let them have a gentle wa-
tering every evening while the bed continues warm, which may
be difcontiniied gradually as that warmth decreafes, and cover
the glafles with mats during the heat of the day ; when the
bark has loft its ftrength, and the cuttings have made young
flioots, let them receive all mild gentie fhowers, and the evening
dews. About the beginning of Auguft, the glafles may be taken
off the frames, and replaced again when the weather begins to
be frofly, but kept open every mild day.. In the beginning
of April following, or as foon after as the weather becomes tem-
perate, remove both the glafl^es and frames ; continue frequent
and plentiful waterings during the fummer months as tlic wea-
ther may require, and the fucceeding April you will have flrong
well-rooted plants, fit for removal. From this pradice, I have
raifed clean-bodied Bays three feet high in two years, which
unaflifted nature will not effedl in four.

The plants now raifed in thefe three diflTerent ways, may all
be treated in the fame manner, and removed to the nurfery ;
when, having- cut away their fuperfluous roots and branches,
attentively encouraging the leading flioot, plant them in a well-
fheltered quarter of light mould, in lines three and a half feet
afunder and eighteen inches in the line : In this nurfery give
them all poffible culture, by digging the ground in autumn and
fpring, and keeping it clean, loofe, and mellow in fummer, fo as
to increafe their roots, and prune them annually in April to a
pyramidal form. Here let tliem continue three, but not exceed-
ing four years, when they maybe removed, ta tiie, g],a(:es where

200 TREATISE o n

they are dcllgned to remain for good ; and tho' thcfe trees may-
be removed at greater ages, yet I have found from experience,
that this is the moll proper time in order to raife them to their
greateil altitude.

Th e gold-flrip'd Bay is of much humbler growtli, and is ten-
derer than the forts before named. It is commonly kept in
pots, and houfcd in winter with liardy green-houfe plants, tho'
I have preferved it in the open ground, for many years running,
xmder the protection of other hardier Evergreens ; but in fevere
winters it has been tarniilied, fometijTies lofl its leaves, and even
the young and tender branches have been deflroyed, yet the fuc-
ceeding fummer repaired thefe misfortunes. It is a very ftrong
rich variegation, and ought to be in all good colle6lions of
Evergreens. The befl method of increafmg this, is by bud-
ding it on any of the plain kinds.

The Bay tree delights moft in a warm, dry, fandy, or gra-
velly foil, where it will grow to t^e height of between thirty and
forty feet ; but to preferve its fine verdure, it fliould be planted
in fituations defended from the deftru^live north and eafb wind-s,
to which if much expofed, it will fometimes fuffer in a very fe-
vere winter, but generally recovers in fummer, even after ap-
pearing quite dead. This plant iho\ild not have a branch taken
from it but in the fpring of the year, as unfkilful, vintimely, and
late cutting it, has deflroyed great numbers that othcrways
would have defied the fevereft winters, many examples of ^^'hich
I have feen.

FOREST-TREES. 201

Th e fhade and flavour of the Bay has in all ages been efl:eem-
ed falubrious to human bodies ; and its aromatic emiffions were
in the greateft reputation with the antient phyficians, for clear-
ing the air, and refifling contagion, befrdes, for their virtue a-
gainft lightning : And we read, that the Emperor Tiberius, who
was much afraid when that happened, ufed to creep under his
bed to avoid it, and fliade his head with its boughs. Many
other phyfical virtues of its leaves, berries, '^■c. are afcribed to
it^ but a relation of them is none of my prefent bujQnefs; only,
as a plant of elegance and beauty, and that yields a mod re-
frefhing and healthful perfume a great way around it, I think
it cannot be too much encouraged in otir climate, where fev/
(if any) of the large-growing plants have thefe agreeable effeds
in fo high a degree.

C c

202 TREATISE on

Chapter XXXVT..
The arbutus, or STRAWS ERRY TREK.

The Species are :

1. The common Strawberry Tree, with round fruit.

2. The Strawberry Tree, with longer flowers and (

lliap'd fruit.

3. The fmooth^kav'd Strawberry Tree.

4. The cut-leav'd Strawberry Tree.

5. The red-flowering Strawberry Tree.

6. The Strawberry Tree with a double flower..

THE five forts firfl; mentioned, are to be propagated either by-
feeds or layers. The method by feeds I iliall firfl: direA,
Thefe feeds are commonly ripe from the middle of November till
the end of December, as the fummer and autumn have been more
or lefs kindly : But one caution is neceffary to be given in ga-
thering them, v/hich is,^not to do it all at once, otherways a great
part of them will be good for nothing, as there are many ripe
and unripe ivvai on the tree at tlie fame time. The ripe berries
are eafily difcovered from thofe that are not, by becoming, from
the richefl: fcarlet, of a deep brownifli tawny colour : Therefore,
from the firfl time you difcover any of them of this hue, exa-
mine your trees every two or three days, and gather them as
Long as there are any remaining. Thefe^ ^berries retai-n thcin

IF O R E S T - T R E E. S. 203

growing quality a very fliort time. The common, practice is to
feparatc the feeds from the pulp immediately as they come from
the tree : But having long been poHelTed of a parcel of large Ar-
butus's, which bore fruit annually, and from which I have rai-
fed many plants, I have experience of their culture, and know
this is not the befl method ; but advife the whole berry to be
preferved entire, and m.ix'd with dry fand till the feafon of fow-
ing, when, by foftly rubbing them between your hands, they
will readily feparate from the pulp, and with that and the fand
may be fown together.

About the middle of March, prepare a moderate hot-bed of
tanners bark ; and if the quantity you intend to raife is large,
lay on fix inches deep of the fined rich loofe mould, and fow the
feeds on it, covering them not above the fixth part of an inch
deep ; but if your quantity is fmall, you may fow them in pots,
and plunge them up to the rim in the tan. In five or fix weeks
the plants will begin to appear above ground, when they mud
be frequently but very lightly fprinkled with water, from a fmall
watermg-pot with a fine rofe ; for, being then very tender, if
the water is carelefsly dalhed on them, many will be deftroyed.
Let the bed be fliaded with mats during the heat of the day ;
and when the plants have been a month above grotmd, they may
receive the evening dews, and gentle fliowers, more and more as
they advance in ftrength, till about the beginning of Augufl,
when, having been well managed, the glafiTes ought to be taken
ofi^, that the plants may enjoy all the heavenly influences in mild
weather ; but as foon as winter approaches, it will be necelTary
to have the glafl'es at hand, to replace in fevere weather, but at-
tentively giving them all the open air when otherways.
C c z

204 TREATISE on

Tii£ fuccecdlng fpring, about the beginning of April, prepare
another hot-bed, whicli need only to be arched over with hoops,
and covered with mats ; raife the feedlings (which, with regxdar
care being taken, ought to be fix or feven inches high) with a
trowel, with all the earth poffible adhering to them, and put
them in penny pots filled with fuch foil as formerly mentioned ;
plunge thefe to the rim immediately on removal into the hot-bed ;
water them, and continue conflantly to do fo gently as you fee
the furface become dry, and let them remain in this flate till the
beginning of Auguft ; but harden them gradually, by expofmg
them to the open air all the preceding month in moift calm wea-
ther. At this time take them out of the bark, and place them in
any warm fpot, under the protedlion of hedges, till October,
when they may be expofed to the winter fun in any fituation
moft convenient, where a mat can be thrown over them during
a fevere ftorm. The following fpring, take all the mould (now
exhaufted) from the furface, till you approach the roots, and fill
the pots again with rich earth ; remove them to a lliady border
till autumn, watering them in dry weather every fecond or at
mofl: third evening, and then expofe them again under a wall or
hedge to the winter fun.

Having now flood twofeafons in the pots, let them be fhaken
cautioufly out of them with all their bulks of earth, which may
eafily be done, as by this time the under part of the pots will be
full of roots and fibres ; pick away as much earth from the
outer part of the bulk, without breaking the whole, as you can,
not difturbing the roots, and cut of}' with a very fharp knife fuch
as from confinement may be mouldy or mufly ; plunge them in
water and earth for an hour, and then place them in two-penny

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 205

pots, where they may conclnvie two or three years as your occa-
lions require ; but keep them the firfl f'eafon under fhade and
ihelter, and water them regularly and plentifully in dry weather,
alter which they will require no extraordinary prote(5lion, or fur-
ther trouble, than watering, with other potted plants, as the fea-
fon requires ; only obferve, every fpring, to take away all the
€arth that will come from the furface of the pots, and replace it
with that which is frefh and rich.

These plants being now ftrong and hardy, may be removed
to the places of their abode for good, which ought to be either
by nature or art, a generous dry foil, and under the covert of
other trees at a proper diftance ; for though I never knew any
itrong plants of the Arbutus killed in a good foil and fituation,
except early in life, in the year 1 740, yet, as I Ihould not chufe
running the fmalleft rifque of lofing whole plantations of fo love-
ly trees, and waiting ten or twelve years to fee them again in
any degree of perfecflion, I would warmly advife, that every
nurferyman, at leaft fuch who have the advantage of protedlion,
Ihould keep a large ftore of well-grown plants of them, from
three to fix or eight feet high, in pots, leafl fome fiital ftorm
fhould again rob us of thofe in the open ground, and which
would in fome meafure repair that misfortune.

The reafon of direding the confinement of thefe plants fo
long in pots, is, that their roots are naturally loofe and drag-
gling, with very few fibres, from whence great numbers of them
never mifs to fail when removed to the open ground ; but being
contraded in their bounds, and affifted by the heat of the bark,
their difpofitions are changed, and they produce roots and fibres
in great abundance.

2q6 treatise on

It muft alfo be obfcrved, that this tree is not fond of being
much pruned at removal, which therefore ovight to be performed
cither a year before or after that operation.

The fort with double flowers is more dwarfifli and tender
than the other kinds : It does not readily fucceed either by bud^
ding or common grafting, but may be propagated by inarching
a branch of it on any of the other forts, which ought to be free-
growing healthful flocks, otherways they will not unite well, or
be long-lived.

Th e Arbutus is certainly amongft the moft elegant and beau-
tiful plants our country produces in a vigorous ftate ; and, to a
perfon fond of Gardening, who paffes the winter in the country,
I cannot think any tree more worthy a careful Culture ii^ fo cold
and inhofpitable a climate as Great-Britain ufually is in the
winter months. To pop in from the open fields, or even from
plantations of other trees, to a grove of thefe protected from
ftorms, their leaves fliining with the moft chearful verdure, their
blofToms fmiling as in fpring, and their boughs loaded with the
richeft fcarlet-coloured fruit, mufl infpire any one capable of
being affedled by the beavities of nature, with the moft lively
and agreeable ideas.

These trees will not fucceed in moifl, heavy, or clay land ;
they will grow tolerably well in a thin and fandy foil, though not
rich, but they moft afied that which is deep, loamy, and gene-
rous. They will rife with us above tl^irty feet high, in a favour-
able fituation flickered at fome diflance by other trees.

[FOREST-TREES. 207

Chapter XXXVII.

THORNS.

Their Culture from the Seed, till they arrive to the
fize of becoming FencibJe Hedges at tranfplanting.

The Species are :
I. The common Hawthorn.
3, The double flowering HAWTHOj^Kr - —

3. The Glaftenbury Thorn.

4. The Cockfpur, or Virginian Hawthorn.

5. The Virginian Hawthorn, with long ftrong thorns.

6. The Virginian Hawthorn, with a plum leaf, and black

fruit.

7. The common Hawthorn, with white fruit.

8. The American Hawthorn, witli yellow egg-fl-iaped fruit.

9. The American Hawthorn, with yellow round fruit.

10. The M-aple-leav'd Hawthorn.

11. The Pyracantha-leav'd Thorn.

12. The Cockfpur Haw without Thorns.

13. The narrow-leav'd Hawthorn.

14. The Goofeberry-leav'd Thorn, with yellow fruit.

15. The common Nottingham Medlar.

16. The large Dutch Medlar.

17. The Neapolitan Medlar,

18. The Virginian Medlar, with fhining leayes.

2o8 TREATISE

O N

19. The Dwarf Medlar, with red fruit,

20. The Dwarf Medlar, with black fruit.

21. The large red Virginian A zr. ROLE.

22. The AzEROLE with yellow fruit.

23. The Pyracantha, or Evergreen Thorn.

TH E ufual method of propagating the common white
Thorn, with which I lliall begin, is fo univerfally known,
as to render it unnecefTary to be related here ; and the more fo,
as it is very faulty, and will admit of as many improvements in
its culture, as any plant hitherto mentioned in tliis Treatlfe.
Thefe plants, from the feed-bed, are commonly fold at fo low a
price, that the moft fkilful nurferyman cannot afford good
Thorns for double the ufual rates. From this caufe, which is
jftiled felf-defence, they are generally fown extravagantly thick ;
and nothing is more common, than to hear nurferymen exulting
in their knowledge and fuccefs, by having more plants on the fame
quantity of ground than their neighbours, unmindful that they
are boafcing of their fliamc, that the plants are good for nothing,
and that an experienced judicious planter would not take a pre-
fent of them for his own life. But as the nobleft and mofl ufe-
ful improvements in agriculture, in a great meafure, depend on
the bed methods of cultivating this common hardy plant, I Ihall
treat it with more diilindlion than it has hitherto been, and feed
it with better fare. The pradice I fliall here dired I do not
mean to infinuate to common nurferymen for fale, as the reafons
above given make their compliance impra(5ticable, till one or other
bolder than the reft, or rather private gentlemen, lead the way,

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 209

which they will no fooner do, than find their account in it, be-
come fenlible of the true value of Thorns from their good or ill
quality, and encourage thofe nurferymen only who have fkill
and honelly enovigh to beftow a good culture : To private gen-
tlemen therefore, and their gardeners, I mean principally to com-
municate thefe, the befl inftrudlions I am able to give, for the
moil fuccefsful and fpeedy manner of railing the ftouteft, har-
diefl, and lading Thorn hedges.

The berries, which are mofl commonly gathered too foon,
fliould remain on the trees till the end of Ocflober, that they be-
come of a blackifli colour, and their flefh begin to decay. They
are ufiially kept in lacks after gathering, and buried in heaps
on the gardener's receiving them : But this is a material bkinder,
as, from the thick pulp in which the berries are inclofed, they
become extremely hot ; whence fome of the ripell kernels, not yet
hardened, vegetate, and of courfe perifh. Many crops have I
known fail from this ignorant pradiice, w^hen the owners could
affign no caufe for their lofs. Let your Haws then, as foon as
gathered, be fpread on an airy floor for five or fix weeks, till the
feeds are dry and firm ; from this plunge them into tubs of
water, and dived them totally of their pulp, by rubbing them
between your hands with a little fand ; which being done,
fpread them again on the loft three or fovir days, till quite dry,
and mix them thoroughly with fine loofe fandy mould, in quan-
tity not lefs than the bulk of the feeds, and lay them in a heap
againd a fouth wall, covering them over three or four inches
deep, with foil of the fame quality as that with v/hich they are
mix'd ; and in this fituation let them continue till the fecond
fpring, as the feeds, tho' fown, will not appear the fird year.
D d

210 T R E A T I S TL on

In order that the berries may be as equally mix'd with the
foil as poflible, it will be necefTary to turn over the heaps once
in two montlis, blending the covering with the berries, and, at
every turning, give them a frefli covering in the winter months.
For want of this precaution, in not mixing the feeds properly,
and divefting them of their pvilp, we univerfally fee, that feldom
one half of the feeds appear the feafon of fowing them, but con-
tinue in the ground, though freili and found, another year ; and
then, if the former year's plants are not all raifed, which is rare-
ly done, the remainder, by coming up under tlieir fhade, are ftar-
ved, and good for nothing. Bvit I fliall now proceed to fuch a
practice (having attended to what has been faid),as will obviate
thefe unlucky circumftances,

Th e berries of the Thorn begin to vegetate with the earliefl
plants, and, in the natural feafon of their growth, will fpring,
if kept in any confiderable quantity together, without the af-
fiflance of earth ; whence it becomes indifpenfibly necelTary, to be
prepared, the firft dry weather in February, to fow them. This
being come, feparate the berries from the loofe foil in which
they were mixed, with a wire fieve, without which it will be im-
poffible to fow them in an equal manner. The ground ought
to be of a good natural quality, dry, and not lately acquainted
with dung, which, unrotted, has very malignant effeds on
many plants, and on none more than the Thorn ; but good frefla
land being well prepared, divide it in beds three and a half feet
broad, with alleys of eighteen inches between them ; pulh over
a little of the furface of the beds to the alleys, as is pradlifed for
fmall kitchen-garden feeds ; fow them with great care, fo tliat
they may not rife in clufters, and that the plants, as near as

B O R E S T - T R E E S. 211

can poflibly be computed, be not clofer than an inch to each
other ; let the feeds be foundly clap'd into the earth with the
back of a fpade, draw the foil back again you had puflied off, and
add to that covering, from the alleys, to the depth of half an inch
only ; for no plant is more delicate, when rifing, than the Thorn,-
or more readily fmothered by too deep a covering.

Thus managed, the Thorns will all appear the feafon of fow-
ing, which is properly faving one half of their berries, and pro-
curiny an equal crop of flrong plants.

Tk e fucceeding fpring, draw out all the largefl: plants where
too thick ; fliorten their roots, cut ofFfo much of their tops as to
leave them about two inches above ground when planted, and
lay them (but beware of dibbling) in lines a foot afunder and
four inches diftant in the line, to remain two years.

At the fame time, I have dixeded Thorns to be fown on beds
in the common way, though much thinner. Senlible that I fhall
not prevail on m.any gardeners at once to relinqviifh thefe pre-
judices that cuftom has confirmed, yet fome I have the happi-
nefs to know of more liberal fentiments, and who want no more
than a reafonable hint to try any experiment that has a feeming
tendency to promote, by a better culture, tlie growth of our
hedges and Foreft-trees : To thefe therefore, and to fuch as are
not flraitened for ground, I, from the moft folid foundation, ad-
vife the following practice :

Sow the berries thin, or rather drop them in drills, made
either with your fingers, or with a very fmall hoc, at eight inches
D d 2

211 TREATISE ON

aiunder the firfb two drills, and double that diftance between
them and every following two, being careful they are no deeper
covered than diredled for thefe in beds ; let the ground be kept
very clean a:nd mellow about thenx till the fucceeding fpring, and
draw them, where too thick, as formerly ; after which, cut the re-
mainder with a fpade, about five or fix inches below ground, and
let them remain another year, having pointed over the ground,,
between the lines..

That this pradlice is no vague opinion, but much preferable
to crowding them, in beds, carries the cleareft demonitration a-
iongft with it, to every man of the leaft attention, wlio does not
choofe to fliut his eyes, and who v;ill only look at thefe plants on
the edges of beds next the alleys, where he will imiverfally find
them of double the fize,.and more abundant in roots than in the
middle of the beds.

Notwithstanding the preceding diredions, both for pre--
paring and fowing the berries, are the befl rules I know to pro-
cvire ftrong wellr grown plants, yet, when numbers only are de-
fired, without regard to faving time, or their future quality,
many more may be procured with lefs trouble and expence, by
fowing their feeds immediately after being ripe, or the following
fpring, of which tlie latter is the beft feafon, as, from that time,
the furface of the ground will be but one winter battered with
the florms, in place of two. Thefe feeds may be covered at fow-
ing, dovible the depth of thofe that are to appear the firft feafon.
In autumn,, rake from the beds all moffy corrupted particles,
and, in the following fpring, before the vegetation is brifk, re-
duce the covering with a fliort-tceth'd rake to half an inch.

FOREST-TREES. 213

From this pracflice, all the found feeds will appear at once ; but
the plants wHl not be one fourth- part of the fize, or have near
fo good roots as thofe whofe berries have been preferved as di-
re(5led, and fown on frefli loofe foil, where they are to appear
that fealbn. From the fmall fize of thefe plants, it will be ne-
ceflary they remain in the feed-bed two years.

Thorns may alfo be propagated to much advantage, and
two years time faved, by cuttings from their roots. For this
purpofe, at removing a nurfery of thefe plants, cut off all unne-
Geffary roots that are ftraight and clean, of one, but not more
tiian two years growth ; let them not exceed the length of four
or live inches, and, either early in Odober, or February, lay them
in drills cut out with the fpade, with their tops a quarter of an
inch below the furface ; let thefe drills be a foot afunder, and lay
tlie roots in them three or four inches feparate, as not a fnigle
frefh and found root will fail that has been planted with care and
attention. If the land has been well prepared, of a good quali-
ty, and kept clean and mellow, the plants will be from eight
inches to a foot high the flrll icafon ; and the following fpring,
having pointed over the ground between the lines, they ought to
be cut with hedge Ihears, within two or three inches of the fur-
face, when, by continuing a proper culture during the enfiiing
fummer months, they will in general be eighteen inches high,,
and mod abundantly rooted at two years old..

I AM very far from meaning to divert any one's attention from
following the juftly eftabiiflied principles of raifmg plants in ge-
neral from their feeds, fully fenfible of its preference to all other
practices in m-oft cafes ; but as there are few rules without feme

2 14 TREATISE on

exceptions, this appears to me one ; the faving of time has been
obferved : To which I fliall add, that thefe plants, in place of one
ftrong perpendicular llioot, (which is commonly the cafe of
young vigorous feedlings), pufli out a number of flioots very
much equal in flrength, and continue to grow in that manner,
without a few branches riinning away with the juices that ought
to nourifli many in much the fame proportion ; whence, from
experience, I muft affirm, that for the moft. equal, clofe, and
impenetrable hedges, plants raifed from young and tender roots
arethebeft; but. for fingle trees, meant to grow in the mofl;
comely form, and afpire to the greateft altitude, thofe propagar
ted from feeds are no lefs preferable.

y\i.L thofe Tliorns may now be treated in the fame manner,
and in Odober fl:iould be planted out in lines, at leafl eighteen
inches afiinder and fix inches in the line, their roots having been
ihortened, and their tops cut off, fo as to ftand four or five
inches above ground when planted. In this nurfery they fliould
remain no more than two years, and the ground ought to be
dwr both in autumn and fpring between the lines ; it will like-
ways much increafe their rooting abundantly, as well as pro-
mote vigorous clean fhoots, that, the year after having been
planted in this nurfery, they be again cut over an inch or two
above the former cutting.

In autumn, remove thefe to another quarter, and plant them
in lines- four feet afunder and two feet diftant in the hne : Let
them now^ be cut to the height of a foot or fourteen inches, and,
about the end of June, clip them flraight in the fides and thin
■in the tops, Having flood here a year longer, cut them again

F O R 'E S T - T R E E S. 215

•to the height of two, or two and a half feet, as, from a favourable
or bad feafon, their flaoots have been more or lefs vigorous, and
clip them as formerly. The ground having been of a good
quality, and properly cultivated, the third feafon, they will admit
of being cut at three and a half feet high about mid-fummer,
and raifed the following autumn, when they may be planted
handfome hedges about four feet high, that will at once afford
•both pleafure and Hielter.

But to bring them to the laft degree of pcrfedion, let thefe
be once more removed with bulks of earth, which they will na-
turally have, if carefidly and fkilfully raifed. For this purpofe,
let a trench on each fide be dug up confiderably deeper than the
fpreading roots, and, with a fharp hedge-bill, cut acrofs all the
■downright ones, which, from the former tranfplantations and
proper drefEngs, will not be many or ftrong ; but while this is
performing, let the plants be held fleady from the oppofite fide,
which otherways, by fhaking, would occafion much of the earth
to moulder away. This being done, lay them foftly down on
•one fide, and with a fharp knife fmooth the extremities of their
roots, equally fhortening thofe that are downright or too fpread-
ing. Let flraight trenches now be ready to receive them at
eight, or, where land can be fpared, ten feet afimder ; in thefe
trenches let them be placed the fame depth they formerly flood,
and at four feet diftance in the line, giving them an abundant
^vatering ; cultivate the ground about them, Avhich may be
crop'd with various kitchen herbs, and herd let them remain
three years, clipping, and in all fliapes drefBng them to their
proper form, as if planted out for good.

i r 6 TREATISE on'

Early in Oclobei*, while the ground is warm, begin planting
thel'c hedges where they are meant to remaiUk To effect this
properly, throw out a trench as formerly, but both wider and
deeper than to contain the roots : If the ground is poor and
thin, lay a flratum of any middling frelh foil at the bottom of
the ti-ench fix or eight inches deep, or, where your fituation will
admit, the more the better ; and having levelled the trench to a
depth fultablc for receiving the plants, let the earth fettle for
fome davs, that it may not afterwards fubfide in any material
deirree. In the mean time, before raifing the hedges you in-
tend, go over them with a light fliarp hedge-bill, and cut out
all fuch branches, particularly towards the top, as are too thick
crowded together ; cut them to your defired height, not exceed-
ino- fix feet high ; then raife, and plant them as direded for the
former removal, at fuch dlltances as to join entirely clofe
too-ether ; let them have a plentiful watering at planting, and
repeat it three or four times during the dry fpring and fummer
months, when, after being eftabliihed one year, they will refill
the rudeil attempts of the wildelt animals in this country.

The wind is the great enemy of new-planted Thorn-hedges
at any confiderable fize ; but, by the judicious performance of
what has here been directed, from which the root will be a full
balance for the body, it cannot poffibly have the fmalleft ill ef-
fect. Every gardener of common underflanding, in order to
lave feveral years growth, juftly enquires after old hedges, (I mean
fuch as are not, from age or other circumllances, in a decaying
flate), in order to cut them over to effe<5l that defirable end. I need
not mention, that fuch grow more in one year than a young
Thorn in three or four ; and if they grow freely without any pre-
ceding culture, when cut over, and removed at the fame time,

FOREST-TREES. 217

(which by the bye mufl be no fmall violence done them at
an advanced age) I am at a lofs to find o\it a reaion
why, having been cultivated fo as to give them ten times
the number of roots they poffibly can have in their wild ftate,
without wounding them, the common deftrudion of old trees,
and brought them to fuch a proportion of body as thofe roots
will keep fufEciently fteady , I fay, thefe circumftances con-
fidered, from what foundation can a doubt arife, that Thorn-
hedges immediately fencible will not fucceed? Strange, that
in a country which boafts of abomiding with the befl gardeners
in Europe, fuch fimple eflays of their art (and which could not
fail of anfwering the intention) Ihould not be frequently executed
for the benefit of fuch as are willing to beftow a little more than
common expence, and chufe (if I may be allowed the expreffion)
to overtake time, or at any rate to repair what has been loft, by
the immediate pofTeflion of what, to a fober virtuous mind, is
amongft the moft agreeable and rational enjoyments !

I CANNOT leave this fubjecl, without taking notice of, and
warning againft the baneful pradice of almoft imiverfally clip-
ping our hedges thick, and broader at top than bottom. This,
in my time, has rendered of little benefit the greateft part of
the fences within my knowledge,^ which, properly trained, would
have been the higliefl ornament, and. moft folic! improvement
our fields are capable of receiving. How a praclice fo glaringly
oppofite to nature, and even common fenfe, fliould be adopted
in a country devoted both to the fludy and pracllce of planting,
is ftrange to imagine i but unluckily it requires no. proof that
fuch is the cafe. The under parts of the hedges lb trained, arc
quite deprived of the benefi;t of the rains and dews, tliefc indif-
E e

11% TREATISE o M

penfiblc fupports of their ftrength and verdure, and are in ibmc
degree fmodiered, from whence the weakelt branches annually
perilh, till at laft the bottom becomes quite naked,. ;which. no fu-
ture care or indviflry can repair but by cutting them over, or at
lead reducing their height, and pruning them clofe .to naked
trunks. This, tho' a certain, is yet a tedious cure ; and to expofe
one's fields to their original cold and defencelefs flate, after for
many years bellowing as much as, properly applied, would
have made them continue beautiful and fencible for ages, muft
be a mortifying circumftance to any man, but, the fliortnefs of
life confidered, doubly fo to one. advanced in years : Let it then
be invariablv obferved, from the firil clipping, till your hedges
arrive at their intended height, that you make them gradually
taper from the bottom, till they become quite iharp at top, in form
of a razor. This too is fiving money, as the apparatus of Hand-
ing-ladders, fcalFolds, d't". necelFary for cutting the tops of high
hedges, becomes expenfive, and, with the hands required con-
ftantly to move them, will cod much more than clipping both
the fides, which can eafdy be performed, to the height of fifteen
feet, by a man Handing on the ground, with die alllftance
of fpring-fliears.

Many have been the arguments with men of more words
than refledion and obfervation, whether or not it is neceffary to
continue the pradice of clipping hedges till old, where ornament
is not required, and that are only the boundaries or divifions of
corn or grafs fields. Good gardeners, I am well perfuaded,
never difputed on this fubjecT: ; for if the greater warmth hedges
nSbrd to the grounds around them conftitute' their greater value
iri'this cold climate, I Ihould think no fenfible man can hefitate
to give an extraordinary preference to thofe that are clip'd ;

FOREST-TREES. 219

the reafons for which are too apparent to require further explan-
ation. I have never feen hedges, growing for a number of years
rude, that were either warm in winter, or clofe at bottom, which
proceeds from a very natural caufe. The Thorn tree, when un-
der no difcipline, grows in a loofe ragged manner, with heavy
and fpreading tops, which, for want of air and moiflure, deftroy
many of the under branches, and when planted in loofe or wet
lands, the winter winds difplace and disfigure them extremely ;
fo that, all circumftances confidered, I could never difcover any
well-founded argument againil clipping them but the expencc,
which, if annually done after a proper manner, in the months of
■July and Auguft, will be fmall in proportion to the pleafure and
benefit you will otherways derive from them.

Digging and keeping clean a border on each fide of your
hedges, at leail for a few years, will alio be well-beftowed la-
bour, as it will much accelerate their growth, and contribute to
their fpeedily thickening at bottom.

Many improvements may likewifc ftu'ely be made on com-
mon pradlice, in the difpofition and manner of planting our
young Thorn hedges. Some lands indeed are fo thin and meagre
as not to produce tolerable fences without a greater depth of foil,
but hardly any are lb bad (very wet grounds excepted) as not
to nourifli Thorns in fuch a degree as to become fenciblc, by an
addition of foil, though of the fame quality, well blended toge-
ther, and expofed to the fummer's fun and \\ inter's froft.

Without proceeding immediately, however, on tliis fubjecl,
1 cannot help taking notice, that the common mctliod of laying
E e 2

zio .TREATISE o n ;

our Thorns on the fides of banks above ditches, and raifing bul-
warks of turf over them, is an abfolute oppofition to every
principle of nature I am capable of difcoveri^ig. I have often
been told, but was never in the Icaft convinced, of the utility of
this pradice ; nor can I poffibly believe, that a plant comprefled
in this manner, without its roots readily partaking of the hea-
venly influences, can be equally nourilhed with one growing on
a level loofe furface that freely enjoys them all. But without
further endeavouring to demonllrate the abfurdity of hedges in
this fituation, let us fee the effedls of it, and let any confiderable
extent of fuch that are warm, fightly, and fencible, argue in their
defence. On this appearing, I Ihall gladly acknowlege my error :
In the mean time, I can fliow, in moll counties of the kingdom,
larp-e tracts of land fo inclofed, and where, in the nioft confide-
rable eflates, there is not a fmgle park that will confine cattle,
without many gaps being made up with paling, or dead brulli-
wood, the lafl of which increafes the evil, as nothing is more
contagious to the living branches than being mingled with dead
ones ; neither can hedges fo planted be with eafe clip'd from
the bottom of the ditch, or when any of the plants perifh, can
they again be properly inferted. But what is worll of all, if the
foil io not a.i obflinate clay or till, the earth annually motilders
away ; io that, in a few years, one fide of their roots are Teft
naked and cxpofed to the weather, whence too, from the weight
of the tops, the winds often bring down both hedge and bank.
In fnort, from the general furvey I have made over moft parts
of the kingdom, I cannot help tliinking that method of inclofing
has more retarded the advantages which mufl have arifen to ju-
dicious fa.^ng^r^/]f<^.^ better fyflem, than all the other blun-
de:cs I, Jfiiow put together. It has likeways, by exhibiting a bad

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 221

example, deten-ed many from inclofmg at all, and put others
on building flone-walls at great expence, though neither fo
beautiful, nor improving to the fields around, as lofty hedges
well trained. I fhall therefore endeavour to give fome few^ hints,
that, if fkilfully executed, w^ill certainly promote their ufual
growth and thicknefs, and that at little, if any greater expence
than attends the common pra(5lice.

In order to inclofe a dry thin foil, mark out the fides of your
ditch four feet wide ; raife the turfs from "the furface fixteen
inches fquare ; leave a fcarfment of eight inches within the top
of the ditch, and lay them with the green fide downwards ; three
rows of turfs will exhaufl the furface of the ditch, when lay a
line of Sweet Briars three or four years old, (that have been
tranfplanted),'-from a foot to eighteen inches afunder, and co-
ver them with the belt earth below the turf, laying the remain-
der, fo far as good, immediately beyond their roots, fo that a
deep border of the belt foil that the place will afford, to be af-
terwards planted with Thorns, may be formed. Procure turf
from the adjacent groimds, till you raife the bank eighteen inches
higher, and lay another line of Sweet Briars, placing them fo
that every plant may be above the interflices of the former line.
Thefe being alfo properly covered, finifh your ditch to the depth
of four feet, and as narrow at bottom as a man can ftand to
heave the foil over the bank : Proceed then to compleat the bank,
which, for an immediate outward fence, ought to be four feet
high ; and lay the highefl: row of the turfs with the green fide
upwards, which will foonell make them unite, and confolidatc
the whole. The common pradice is to make thefe banks flope
in the fame proportion the fides of the ditches do ; and the argu-

222 TREATISE ON

ment for it isj that they ftand the weather better. But if the
turfs are wdll laidj and foundly clapped together with the back
of a fpade, there is not the fmallefl danger of their failing at
that height, and therefore I would advife them to be laidAvith-^
in fix or eight inches of being perpendicular: My reafbns for
which are, that I mean this bank, with the Sweet Briars plant-
ed on it, as foon as pofTible to hang over that fide af the. ditch
under it, to prevent violent rains from walliing it down, and
which, by giving it the ufual flope, cannot fd foon be affected.
It v.'ill alfo be a better defence againll catde, who often make at-
tempts to get over ditches and banks that have too eafy a flope ;
but from this pofition they have no footing, and when the
Sweet Briars are grown two years, . cattle in the bottom of the
ditch cannot raife their heads without being oppofed by them,
which they will not attempt a fecond time. A fheep-park thus
inx:lofed, will, in three or four years, confine thele animals no
lefs elFedlually than the highefl wall, as they^ . and indeed horfes
or cows, cannot bear the touch of them, Na perfon in ordinary
circumftances need fcruple the expence of the Sweec Briars,
as there is not any plant more eafily or expeditioufly raifed ; but
if you have them not, and do not chufe the trouble or delay of
raifing them, they may be purchafed for a few jhillings per
thouf uid. The Briars abound with fo great a quantity of pene-
trating roots and fibres, as foon to render any bank they are
placed on impenetrable as a wall ; and tliere is no plant yet dif-
covered fo proper for filling up the gaps of old hedges of all
kinds, where plants of the fame fort with thefe hedges will not
fucceed. i,.^utrljfhall proceed to the inner fide of the bank,

.Having fumiflied this with the befl earth you can- procure.
Cope it fo gradually as that the rains may not walh it down, to

1^ O R E S T - T Pv E E ' S. 223

about three feet below the level of its top, which is allowing a
foot of forced foil above the furface, for a border to receive the
Thorns. This border Ihould be at leaft two feet broad within
the hedge, and made hollow, the better to retain the moillure.
On this plant your Thorns in thicknefs proportioned to the fize
of your plants ; for the common run of Thorns three or four
years old, fix inches diftance is the general rule, but for ftout
ones that have been twice removed, and confequently have a-
bundaace of roots, a foot will be clofe enough. Thefe Thorns
ought not to be planted vipright, but fliould be laid as near as
may be in a horizontal pofition, fo that die top of the one extend
-as far, and be juft above the root of the other. This method of
planting, in place of a few vigorous rambling Ihoots from the top
of the plant, which is ufually the cafe with fueh as are planted
perpendicular, will make them brufla from the bottom like a fan,
and in two years, by keeping them as has been diretfled, they will
be fo clofe that a finall bird cannot get through them. But let it
he obferved, I do not mean this to be pratflifed in the nurfery, nor
even in the field, for fuch as are above fix or feven years old, or
that are planted above the height of two, or two and a half feet
high, as this oblique pofition, in large brulhy plants, will not
iidmit of their roots having the fame {lability to refift the winds
as thofe placed upright.

The different fizes of Thorns, to procure fcncible hedges
fooner or later, has already been mentioned ; and it muft be left
to every man to judge for himfelf, what money or labour he
chufes to beflow : Therefore I fliall only fay, that an old Thorn is
hardier than a young one, and will fucceed in coarfe obflinate
grounds, where the other will perifh ; to which I may add, that

224 TREATISE on

the difference of expence between thofe of three and fix years old
is nothing, as, allowing the oldeft to be double the price, they
will go double the length. In unkindly foils, what I have here
faid, I know experimentally cannot be juftly refuted ; but it may
be returned, that fmall Thorns planted in good foil, at the fame
diftances they ought to fland when older, will in time make
equally good hedges. This I mufl grant ; but the difference of
expence can bear no proportion to the advantage of having a
good fence three or four years fooner, and faving the expence of
culture for that time, which for fmall plants is much greater
than large ones ; fo that in the main, I cannot think any circum-
(lance, but that very bad one of poverty, fliould juftly excufe a
man who plants fmall Thorns, where large ones are to be had at
a moderate price.

Th e fame rules diredled for training Thorns in the nurfery,
to be afterwards planted at the fizes of fencible hedges, are to be
continued progrefEvely, when planted out for good in the fields
ever after..

If it is objeded, that I have excluded Thorns from being
planted in the banks above ditches, and yet direded Sweet Briars
there, to the reafons already given I Ihall only add, that the
Sweet Briar is an exceeding hardy plant, and will fucceed in
many foils and fituations where Thorns will not ; and what is
more material in the prefent cafe, is, that being a dwarf light
flirub, they never arrive to fuch a fize or weight, as- to be affect-
ed by the winds in any degree that will in tlie leafl loofen oc
fliake the banks, which is too frequently the cafe with Thorns.

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 225

Of all the devices yet fallen on for planting hedges, none are
fo natural, and efledual for the inward divifions of dry ground,
as that of doing it on the furfacc of a well-dug, or trenched bor-
der, thickened where the foil is thin, or inellowed by labour and
warm loofe earth, where cold and fliff. Next to that, both in
point of beauty and utility, is on the top of a funk fence built
with flone ; but even there, though for feveral years they will
grow much about as fall as on a level botcom, yet, when the
roots approach the wall, thev are of confequence retarded in
therr progrefs on that fide, and will not afterwards grow with
the fame luxuriance as on the furface unconfined on both
fides.

In wet lands, not only ditches, but double ones, and deeper
than thofc- directed, are indifpenfibly neceflary, as the firll capi-
tal improvement that can be made, which ought to be fo difpo-
fed as to receive fmall covei'ed drains from all the wet quarters
of the adjacent fields, at the nearell diftances may be, to con-
vey the whole water away ; and which, in many fituations, may-
fave a great expence, by flaortening the unueceiTary diflances of
thefe drains.

Many hard- laboured Treatifes have been written, and plans
drawn, directing the manner of draining grounds, but, for 'Ge-
neral pracT:ice, they are all inefiectual, and of little other ufe tiian
to amufe the ignorant. The diiferent kinds of drains for diffe-
rent foils, accommodated to the materials thofe foils procluce, or
that are cojiyeniently. to-be had, may be^direded;;, butjio lan-
guage can convey fuch rules as will inilru(5i: the unexperienced
in the knowledge of an univerfal fyftem, as the fame plan will
U f

226 TREATISE on

rarely anfwer any two fields of a hundred, and therefore, with-
out getting a particular plan of every fpot, we get nothing, a ge-
nerally ufeful one being impradlicable. Nature muit dicflate the
courfes we are to follow, good fenfe purfue thofe didlates, and
experience conducl the different manners of operation,.

Where double ditches are determined, the breadth' of the
bank between them muft be proportioned to what plantation
you there intend ; but in general they are made too narrow,
from whence the bank becomes dry, and the plants of courfe
are not properly nouriilied. For a hedge only, the bank ought
to be nine feet at bottom, and eight at the top; for a hedge and
one line of trees, fixteen, that is, planting the trees at eight feet
from the hedge, and four from the edge of the bank ; and for
tw^o lines of trees, one on each fide of the hedge, twenty-eight
feet. This I think is the meaneft allowance ought to be granted ;
but where what is commonly called flripes of planting are re-
quired, either for the benefit of the wood, or the improvement
of the climate by fhelter, the plantation ought to be broader or
narrower as the inclofures they furround are greater or lefs.

Let the qiialit;^ of the foil be confidered in the conflrucflion
of ditches, and more bafe given to the perpendicular height,
where the land is loofe and fandy, or fpungy and mofiy, than
where well tempered and folid, or obftinate clay and till. A
ditch, on foils of the latter qualities, four feet wide, will admit
of being the fame depth ; of the former, three feet depth to the
fame breadth, will in general be as much as it will bear, and fo
in proportion as the ditches are broader or narrower. In fpouty
And moffy foils the Sweet Briars will be doubly ufeful, as thex

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 227

will there fuceeed better than moft other plants, and confolidate
the banks fooiiei" and more efFedually.
)) flr/m 31;
The fences in Windfor Foreft, for containing the deer, and
preventing their depredations in the adjoining fields and planta-
tions, are highly charadlerifed by fome authors, and held by many
improvers as the befl model for hedges in general. But I am for-
ry I cannot agree with their fentiments, thofe I am well acquaint-
ed with having lived a confiderable time in the neighbourhood
of them : They are conftrudled by throwing up double ditches,
with the contents of which they form a bank between them ;
on the top of this bank, they plant a hedge-row of white Thorn,
Crab, Maple, Hazel, Elder, Elm, and Oak trees ; the banks they
cram full of hlack Thorns, Brambles, and common Briars ; below
which, and a little above the ditches, they form a dead hedge,
by driving flakes in the ground, interwoven with black and
white Thorns, Brambles, Briars, or whatever biiifli-wood thev
can moft conveniently procure, to prote<5l the plants till they be-
come fencible. That thele kinds of bulwarks may frighten
deer, or even lions, wolves, and tygers from approaching them,
1 cannot doubt, as they prefent a moft unnatural, gloomy, and
horrid profpect, and which, in my opinion, highly deform a fpor,
otherways abounding with the fweetefl, richell, and mofl mag-
nificent objedis I ever beheld. One great argument ufed in de-
fence of thefe fences, is, the profitable returns they yield for
fuel, in a country where they have no coal nearer than London ;
but I fliculd think very little ingenuity might contrive how to
raife more and better fuel on the fame quantity of ground, with-
out fliocking the fight, a great part of that being employed in
trumpery that yields very little good fuel : In fhort, I cannot
¥ f z

228 TREATISE on

think them calculated for anything, but a favage imcultivated
country, -vvhei-e there is danger of being invaded by wild beafts,
whofe incurlions they might probably repel.

"Where hedges of uncommon (Irength are required, I know
nothing fo efFeclual as double lines, planted in the triangvilar
manner ; fo that the plants in one line may be directly fronting
the interflices of the other, whence animals attempting to force
their heads through any weak part of one line, are met in the
nofe, and repulfed by the plant oppofite. Thefe plants too,
growing in concert, afford a mutual aid by flieltering each other,
and will for feveral years grov/ faller than a fingle line.

Standards of all kinds in hedges are highly deftrucftive, as,
by hanging over, they fmother the plants below, Ihake them,
and in all refpecls rob them of much nourilliment.

Hedges that have grown any confiderable time wild and un-
cultivated, mufl neceffarily beccune ragged and open. To remedy
this, the common way to make them become immediately fen-
cible, is plalhing them ; and where they are not above ten or
twelve years growth, I have known fuch become tolerable
fences, when not too much w^ounded, (the common error)
but done with fldll and attention, being regularly clip'd after-
wards ; but if they are not taken about that age, the feverity of
the wounds, necellary to make them comply to their proper lla~
tions, are fo great, that in a few years many of them die, and be-
coming full of gaps, are more nnfightly, and lefs fencible than
ever; whence the advantage is of Ihort duration, and the remedy
becomes v.'orfe than the difeafe. But the only method of cure

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 229

I can devife, and which I have often fuccefsfully pra^flifed for old
overgrown Thorn-hedges, is to prune them clofe to their bodies,
and cut them over fmooth, a good deal flanting, to the height of
about four feet, and fupply the gaps with old Hollies, if to be
had, or, failing thofe, with flrong plants of Sweet Briar, both
of which ought to be diverted of great part of their branches,
which will make them pufli out a greater number of young ones
more vigoroufly, refifl the winds, and fooner become flrong
eqvial fences.

In fupply ing thefe vacancies, however, a little extraordinary
labour and attention muft be beflowed, by cutting down the
roots of the old Thorns with a pick-ax, afterwards fmoothing
them with a hedge-bill, and making the hole as large and deep
as the fpaces will pollibly allow them to be ; to which, if frefh foil
is added in place of the exhaufted earth taken out, your greater
fuccefs, from faving time by more liberal flioots, will largely
repay the expence.

To defcribe the various methods that have been practifed
by incloling grounds with hedges and ditchefe, would be both
tedious and unnecelTary ; nor would it be difficult to direcl a yet
greater variety of ways hitherto unpra6lifed, further than from
making experiments, inany of which I have tried ; but the few
i-ules here recommended, as they are the moil natural and fun-
pie, fo I have ever found them the mod fuccefsful, and believe
laying more on the fvibjed: would be fuperfluous.

Th £ following thirteen kinds of Thorns are worthy of being
cultivated in all good colleclions of flowering plants, where,

2^0 T Pv E A T I S E OK

from the beauty and fragrance of their blofloms in fpring,
joined to the rich glow of their fruits in autumn, they have a
moll chearfal efiecl, properly difpofed in the wildernefs, or in
groves near the houfe.

They are all, except the double-blofTom'd fort, to be propa-
gated from feeds, wrhere thefe can be procured ; but as fome of
tliem are apt to vary from the parent plant, when increafed that
way, I Ihould rather advife their being grafted or budded on the
common kind, from whence they will not only fooner become
fruitful, but ever after continue to be fo, wherein tlieir greateft
beauty confiils.

Th e Medlars and Azeroles are cultivated, both for mixing
with other trees in ornamental plantations, and for the fake of
their fruit in the kitchen garden, where they are planted in
ilandards and efpaliers. They will fucceed by grafting, or
budding them on the common Hawthorn, but will be improved
both in the fize of the plant, and flavour of the fruit, by doing
them on the Pear-^ flock. To inlarge the tree, a tleep moift foil is
neceiiary ; but where fruit is the motive, a generous dry mould
-and warm fituation is required.

Let the ftocks for the Thorns, when grafted or budded, be in
a- free-growing vigorovis ftate, and about the bulk of one's finger,
three or four feet above ground, which will be a proper height
for thefe operations. The Pear-flocks, for the Medlars and Aze-
roles, muft be proportioned to the ufes you intend them for : If
for dwarfs, efpaliers, or walls, graft them within three or four
inches of the ground ; but if for flandards, the fame height as

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 231

for the Thorns will be better, as otherways (they growing in a
loofe draggling majiner) it will be difficult to rail'e tiiem with
flraight clean bodies.

Th e Pyracantha or Evergreen Thorn is a trailing plant, and
cannot be raifed to a fightly ftandard, but is very proper for co-
vering walls near the houfe, where the fliining verdure of the
leaves in winter, almoft covered with large bunches of rich fcar-
let-coloured fruit, is extremely beautiful. They are eafily propa-
gated from feeds fown in February, in the fame manner as the
common Hawthorn, but in a ihady border, part of which will
rife the hrft, and the remainder the fecond fpring, and thefe make
miich better plants than thofe increafed by layers.

I HAVE e'/er thought v/e pay too little refpecfl to the common
Hawthorn in our ornamental plantations, as, in the feafon of its
bloom, I know few trees exceed it either in beauty or fragrance ;
I would therefore recommend it more in wildernefs work, as well
as hngle plants in lawns, where a confiderable number of them,
judicioufly interfperfed with others, would highly decorate thofe
fcenes. The Thorn too, unconiined, and its natural luxuriance
of growth encouraged, becomes a (lately tree ; and the wood
which is extremely hard, and finely variegated, particularly to-
v/ards the root, is not inferior to Box for many curious and-
ufeful purpofes.

232

TREATISE ON

Chapter XXXVIII.
On the PROPAGATION of TREES by LAYERS.

THE manner of preparing mother plants or ftools, from
which you are to propagate trees by layers, has already
been diredled under the article of the Elm Tree. Thefe diredions
having been obferved, and ftrong clean flioots produced, early
in Oclober begin the operation, with all the hardy deciduous
trees that are moft proper to be cultivated in that way, and
w^hich are mentioned under their refpedive names. In the firfl
place, cautioufly bend down all the principal branches around
the flool, without wotmding them, if pofhble, to comply, (tho'
often direcfled and pradlifed) ; let them be at fuch diftances from
one another, as to admit all the fmaller collateral fide-branches
to be laid between them, and let them be firmly peg'd down to
the o-roimd with hook'd flicks, as otherways, if the flioots are
ftrong, the preflure of the earth alone will not prevent their
flarting up again. If the principal flioots have no fide-branches
fit to lay, that is, if they are not about a foot in length, let all
under that be pruned clofe away, and the main flioot be only laid ;
all the very fmall twigs from the fide-branches mull likeways
l:>c cut clofe, or rub'd ofl", as the fewer flioots the layers produce,
they will be the ftraighter and more vigorous. But before pro-
ceeding to cover them, I fliall mention the different ways necef-
fary to be pradifcd with the branches, in order to facilitate their
rooting.

FOREST-TREES. 233

Some tye a piece of wire hard, round the twig, at that part
where the roots are defired, and prick it above the wire, through
the bark with an aul, in feveral places.

Where the wood is very hard and iinwilUng to root, the
branches are Ibmetimes cut by a flit upwards from a joint, as is
pratSlifed in laying Pinks and Carnations, which is called by
the gardeners tonguing the layers : But this feverity I would fcl-
dom chufe to pra(5tife, as trees difpofed to root by layers ac all,
may be prevailed on to do fo by gentler means, when rhefe means
are fkilfully applied. The plants raifed in that mannei", are long
of recovering their wounds, and not only very apt to be torn
afunder at taking them from their mother, but for a long time
after on removing them.

Twisting the place you deflgnto peg down into the ground
is often done, but with feveral kinds of hard wood it does not
anfwcr properly ; with all the foft kinds it is an excellent praclice.

There arc other dllTerent operations performed in laying
trees ; but the fpecimens given are the heft I know, but one,
which, though very fimple, I have fuccefsfully pradllfed during
the greateft part of my life, and that is, Icratching off the bark
as deep as the wood, where the roots are wanted, about two or
three inches in length, and tvv'o thirds round in flouc branches,
or lefs in fmall ones.

Having treated the branches in one or otiier of the ways de-
scribed, proceed to putting them in the ground, by pegging
down that part where you have made any incifion, and with
both your hands prefllng it into the earth, till it become Iharp-

G rr

234

TREATISE

at the joint, and the branch from that be quite perpendicular ;
for if they are only bent in the form of a club, they will not by
any future culture make (lately or handfome trees. Let them be
covered about four inches deep, and their tops cut over tv^'o or
three buds above the furface ; and then raife up the earth round
each of the ftools a little higher than the bed of the layers, hol-
low'd w^ithin, in form of a bafon, the better to contain the rains
that fall, or the water given them by hand, which in dry wea-
ther fliould not be fpared, as nothing will contribvite more to •
their rooting abundantly.

It will likeways be proper to go over the layers about the
middle or towards the end of May, and rub off all the buds and
tender fhoots but the mofl promifmg one, as, by a greater num-
ber of branches, the kindly efteds of the rains and dews are pre-
vented, and the large fhoots fmother the fmall ones.

The autumn, as has been fliid, is the beft feafon for laying
all hardy deciduous plants ; for fuch as are delicate, the fpring
is a much fafer feafon, as, immediately after the operations necef-
fary to be made, a hard winter fucceeding might mofl probably
kill fvich totally : For the fame reafon too, I prefer laying the ten-
der Evergreens at that time alfo, rather than the ufual feafons of
Augufl and September, But for the hardy kinds, I know no
other feafon needful to be obferved, than that in which one can
beft fpare time, as the fooncr you lay them, you will the fooncr
raife them.

Though fome little incifion is ncceOary on the layers of mofl
hard-wooded trees, yet in the Lime, and many other foft pliable
plants, nothing more is wanting than a proper covering, and
attc!ition to the other circumltances of culture direded in general.

F G R E S T - T U E E S. S35

Chapter XXXIX.
On grafting and INOCULATION.

/'^F all the aids Nature has received from Art in the produdli-
^^^ ons of the vegetable world, none has perhaps been more
aftonifliingly great and ufeful to mankind in the improvement
of gardening, than what has been derived from the culture of
trees and generous fruits, by grafting and inoculation. By this
happy difcovery, we can not only preferve every fpecies bounti-
fully bellowed on us by the great Author of Nature, which
otherways, by inattention and floth, and without exerting that
knowledge, would, many of them, have degenerated, by barely
fowing their feeds, bxit we have it alfo in our power, by the
praclice of thefe means, ever to improve the quality of thofe, the
XLoblefl gifts the earth affords us.

I SHALL therefore mention the different ways of grafting
that are or have been ufually pradlifed, as, in certain cafes, all
of them may be ufeful, where overgrown flocks, or fuch as are
not of a proper age and fize for one manner of operation, may
be accommodated to another ; and then notice the ways I have
found befl fuited to thefe different circuraflances. But fome
time before proceeding to the execution, let the materials be
provided in the following manner :
G g 2

236 T R E A T I S E o x

Th l grafts of all hardy trees are the better to be cut three or
four weeks, and laid in a Ihady border fix or eiglit inches deep,
before grafting : Such, which the gardeners call thirfty grafts,
are ever found to unite fooner, and more certainly, than when
the circulation of the fap is equally briflc in both the graft and
flock ; and I never had more fuccefs, than with grafts that were
fo much flirivel'd in the bark, and feemingly withered, as to be
thought only fit for the fire by fuch as were unfldl'd in the
art.

Where your flocks are flrong, that is, not lefs than half ah
inch diameter, i flout flumpy graft with thick-fet plump buds,
is much to be preferred to a flendei* one, for the luxuriant growth
of all hardy Forefl-trees ; but where bloIToms and fruit are foon
defired, cr the tree meant to be dwarfed, the reverfe mufl be ob-
fervcd.

The grafts being cut and laid by the heels, their covering
ought next to be prepared, by colledling the quantity neceffary
of flrong, fat, loamy clay, to which add a fifth or fixth part of
new-inade horfe-dung, mix'd with fome hay or flraw cut very
fmall, which will bind the whole better together, and prevent
its rending and falling off the trees. Thefe muft be well blended,
by often beating, and pouring water on them every fecond or
third day, till they become folid and well incorporated ; after
which the whole fhould be hollow'd in form of a dilh, not expofed
to frofl or drying winds, and kept moifl by regularly poviring
Avater on it as it becomes dry, till it is tifed.

The inflruments ncccITary for the different operations are ;

F O R E S T - T II E E S. 237

-I . A fmall hand-faw, to cut off the heads of large flocks.

2. A good {Irong pruning-knifc, with a thick back, to make
clefts in the flocks.

3; A fmall knife, made very fliarp, to exit the grafts.

4. A grafting-chifel, and a fmall mallet,

5. A wedge, to keep open the clefts in large flocks till the

infertion of the graft,

6. A bafs mat, or woollen yarn, to tye the grafts cut in

pieces at lengths proportioned to the bulk of the flocks.

Since the firfl invention of grafting, there have been many
-various ways of performing it ; but the following has been
found the befl, and moll fuccefsful :

I. Grafting in the rind, or Shoulder-grafting, which is only
proper for trees two inches diameter or upwards.

5. Cleft or Slit-grafting : This is proper for flocks from about
three quarters of an inch to two inches diameter.

5. Whip or Tongue-grafting : This, for flocks not exceeding three
qiiarters of an inch diameter, is the moll readily perform-
ed, and far moft fuccefsful manner of any. By whip-graft-
ing, the wounded ftock foon heals, and where the growth
is vigorous, in two years the ftock and graft become fo
perfedly united, that one will hardly difcover any incifion
having been made.

4. Grafting by approach, inarching, or abla<5lation : This is to
be performed on plants in pots, or when the flock you

■2%^ TREATISE ON

•would graft on, and the tree from which you take your
graft, ftand, or can be brought fo near together that they
may be joined : But inarching is only proper for tender
and exotic plants, as from this operation they never become
vigorous hardy trees, though, to bring aboiit the fudden
production of flowers and fruit, no pracflice has yet been
found fo faccefsful ; and you may even inarch trees with the
blollbms and fruit upon them, but this is committing vio-
lence, and it is better to allow an intimate conjunction, by
a free circulation of the fap, befox-e you admit of their
bearing any quantity of fruit at leaft, which conliderably
impairs the ftrength of all young new-planted or new-
grafted trees. This "method is to be performed three or four
weeks later than any of the preceding ways, and when the
juices are in high circulation.

5. Grafting in the root : This is of much later invention than
any of the former ways, and, in many circumftances, may
be an improvement on them all. It is performed by cut-
ting the clean fmooth roots of the flocks in pieces five or
fix inches long, and as large, or a little larger, than the
graft of the fame fpecies you are to put in it : Let them
be whip-grafted and tyed together very clofe, fo as to pre-
vent the wet from affeCling the wounded parts, and plant
them fo deep, that the graft, which fliould be four or five
inches long, may be about one half buried under the furface.
This is an admirable pra6lice, both for improving the flavour
of fruits, and prcferving a nearer fimilitude to the tree
from whence you took your grafts ; for by this means the
grafts will root, and thefe roots increafe as well as thofe
from the flock : Hence, as all plants mufl draw much

FOREST-TREES.

239

from the flock 011 which they are grafted, fuch will have a
lefs dependence, having great part of their nourilliment
from their own proper roots. To this circmnilance I mull
alfo obferve, that I can fee no manner of difficulty in mak-
ing thefe grafts as genuine a fpecies as the original tree
from which they were taken, by cutting away the (tock
altogether, after they have flood two or three years, iu
which time they will be fufficiently rooted to admit of a
feparation, and fucceed by themfelves. This hint may af-
furedly be improved to much advantage, and is only mak-
ing the flock a temporary nurfe till the graft has acquired
flrength. Where this method is to be put in praclice, the
grafts may be an inch or two longer than thofc before
mentioned, as, by giving them that additional depth in the
earth, tliey will the fooner and the more abundantly root,

Th e feafon of grafting muft be regulated according to the tem-
per of the weather in the fpring, earlier or later as that iLall be
more or lefs fo. The ufual time of performing it, is when the
buds begin to fwell, which no doubt appears very confiflent with
nature ; but as we feldom have uniformly mild weather for feve-
ral weeks after that period, I have in niy earlier years often paid
very dear for my compliance with this fb common and leemingly
reafonable a time for the operation, both from a continuance of
cold rains, and fliarp withering frofls,and that even after the grafts
have begun to pulli out their Ihoots, from whence I have frequently
lofl whole quarters of them : Therefore, from as much praclice
with my own hands in grafcing as perhaps anyone manof my age
has ever had, I advife, that the grafts, particularly of hardy frcc-
lliooting trees, having been cut and laid in the ground before.

Z40 TREATISE on

the buds begin to fwcU ; I fay, in that cafe, I advife the operation
•to be deferred till the circulation of the fap is brifk, and the buds
of the flocks are beginning to break into leaves, when the grafts
will immediately unite, which done earlier, cannot fo foon hap-
pen ; beildes, at this advanced time in the fpring, there is at Icaft
a greater probability that the weather afterwards will continue
milder. At the fame time it mufl: be obferved, that the weak
fhoots of tender trees will not admit of being fo long cue as the
more hardy.

Let it ever be a (landing rule, not to graft while it adunlly
freezes or rains ; in either of which events, no reafonable faccefs
need be expetEled,

It has lately become a frequent pracflice, after barely tyeing the;
grafts with bafs, and without the application of clay, to hoe up the
earth fo deep as to cover the ftoek ; and in this way, with hardy
trees, in a dry mild fpring, I have fucceeded to my willies : But
in this country we have been fo little acquainted with thefe tem-
perate feafons of late years, and I have fufFered fo much by my
too fanguine hopes of better weather, that till I fee fome altera-
tion in our climate, I {hall neither advife others, nor venture deep
myfelf, without taking every precaution, except from abfolute
necellity, and where the hands needful to accompllfli the bufi-
nefs feafonably cannot be procured, I mufl therefore recom-
mend, that your grafts be tyed as firm as may be, without gal-
ling them, that the wounded part of the flock may be intirely
covered with the bafs, and that the clay may be well tempered,
and put on fmooth and clofe, fully covering the bafs, and top of
the flock, in fuch a manner as will belt expel the air, and prevent
all other injurious cffecls to be apprehended from cold and wet.

FOREST-TREES.

241

is a fpecics of grafting infinitely
fuperior to any other yet invented for niofh kinds of trees, and
will fucceed with many forts tliat will not grow, nor make good
plants, by any other means. From this pracftice of only open-
ing about an inch of the bark, and gently thrufting in a fmall
bud between that and the wood, there is not the fmalleft violence
committed on the flock, which, being done in the growing feafon,
in two or three weeks becomes perfedJy found.

This operation is commonly performed from the middle of
June till the middle of A\iguft, a little fooner or later as' the fea-
fon is more or lefs forward : But the beft rule to obferve, is to
begin when you find the buds fully formed at the extremity of
the lame year's llioots, at which time they have finiihed their
fpring growth, and are ripe for inoculation.

In very hot dry fummers, particularly in light thin ground,
the bark of the flocks will not open clean and fmooth, from both
a want and flagnation of juices : To remedy which, two or three
weeks before the feafon of budding commences, let the flocks be
regularly watered every third or fourth evening j and if fome is
fprinkled over the tops, from the rofe of the watering-pot, to imi-
tate Nature's watering, it will contribute much to invigorate
them. This too may be very fuccefsfully applied to the trees
from whence the buds are to be taken ; by not knowing or at-
tending to which, I have frequently feen whole quarters of buds
perifh, and others where the ftocks were fo hide-bound that
the bark would by no means feparate from the wood to receive
the bud. A watering or two after the buds are put in, will like-
wife be of ufe.

H h

a4i TREATISE on

Th e beft time for budding is in cloudy \veather, (though
not when it adually rains) or in the evening of a warm dry
day; for if it is done in the middle of it, the flioots will perfpire
fo fart as to leave the buds deflitute of moiflure.

' Budding is highly preferable to every operation for all kinds
of {lone fruit, which, from all the other ways of grafting, c.re
very apt to produce a gum at the wounded part, with which, if
the plants are once ever fo little infected, they never after flioot
freely, or live long. It is likewife beft for moft of tlie nut-bear-
ino- trees, many of which will fucceed in no other way than by
this, or inarching, and which, as has been faid, is rather an a^-
mufmg curiofity than any folid improvement.

Th e manner of performing the different ways of grafting, has
been defcribed in various books on Gardening ; and though for
that reafon I would not fpare a relation of it here, yet I hold it
altogether unnecefliiry. Every regular-bred gardener is in-
ftruded in it as the firft elements of his profefhon ; and fimple
as the operations are, I never knew them readily and fuccefsfully
executed by any who had not begun early in life : I therefore
advife aU young and unexperienced gardeners, to apply for know-
ledge in grafting, to the practice of it, under the diredlion of an
able mafter, as otherwife the moft lively defcription will little a-
vail them.

Th e ftocks on which the difierent kinds of trees will fucceed,
^nd others by which their fpecies will be improved, and their fruits
meliorated, are already mentioned in the culture of thefe ti-ees.

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 243

Chapter XL.

On FORESTS or WOODS, and the moil fpeedy
manner of Rearing them.

TO plant a wood without inclofing it, is not only amongft the
idled ways of throwing away money, but is laying up a
fund of remorfe and difcontent that muft necefTarily often occur,
from the devaflations of cattle and fheep, whofe browfings and
bitings communicate* a poifon to the trees, which nothing but
cutting them below the infedled parts will expel. Let this then
be your firft care to perform in the mofl fubflantial manner, with
double hedges, in one or other of the ways directed, according
to the fituation and quality of your field.

Though the advantages arifing from timber, over mofl of the
large eftates in Great Britain where it abovmds, are apparently
great, yet we are certainly lefs attentive to the cvilture of woods
than any other kind of plantation, and indeed than any im-
provement we undertake. But as I believe the increafe of them,
particularly in the cold, barren, and lefs cultivated places of the
kingdom, would be of the utmofl importance, remove many ob-
ftrudlions, and pave the way to general and fuccefsful hufbaudry
of various kinds, I fliall endeavour to give fome hints, which,
if attended to, will, I am certain, much forward the growth of
thefe plantations, and procure them in many quarters where ex-
H h 2

!44

TREATISE

periments have already been tried in vain, but not conduced
judicioufly, or on proper principles.

AVhere the foil is of a loofe fandy quality, the trees mufl ne-
cefTarily be planted in pits, as, by breaking up the whole furface,
many of them may be blown out of the ground, and other-, bu-
ried by the driving of the fand, where the fituation is expofed.
With refpetSl to every other foil folid enough not to be d . i en
by the winds, notwithftanding much has been faid in de-
fence of pitting plants, I mufl from experience, and 1 think plain
reafon too, diffent from it, and maintain, tliat all fuch cannot
be too long fallowed and pulverifed, by frequent plowings and
haiTowings ; grounds of a middling quality, after grafs, will re-
quire a fummer and winter's labour at lead ; an obflinate clay,
liot lefs than two.

Neither is the extraordinary expence of labouring this ground
fo great, as may at firfl: view appear without refledling on future
circumftances. The pits in old, hard, uncultivated land, miift be
made three times as large as on that which is dreffed, and ought
to have a good deal of loofe etrth round the roots, otherways,
in wet feafons, the water will flagnate and rot the fibres ; and
in any feafon tliey will be fo much obftrudled in their progrefs
when they reach the hard uncivilized earth, as to become flunt-
ed and hide-bound, from which they flowly recover, and that
feldom till tliey are cut over ; whereas, in the other fituation, the
pits need be made no larger than eafily to contain the roots, as
they will proceed in their growth, and fpread their roots near the
fiirfacc without interrupiion. However, if planting the ground in
its natural ftate is determined, let the pits be made the preceding

F O R E S T - T R E E S.

'■4S

fprlng, to correcfl and meliorate the iburnefs and obflinacy of
the foil ; and if you can procure a mixture of more generous
mould, and oppofite quality, let It mixed, and often blended to-
gether with that taken out of the pits, as foon after as may be.
In planting after this manner on fliffor wet land, give the gi rat-
ed attention that the trees be planted no deeper than barely to
fvipport themfelves againll the Avinds, and that the pits may be
dvig conliderably broader for their depth, than the ufual propor-
tion allowed in loofe dry ground.

For a century pafl the Scots Fir has been the common nurfe
of all the better kinds of Foreft Trees in Scotland ; and one mud
be both ungrateful and ignorant, who is infenfible of the many
and great advantages that country has reaped from the general
culture of this plant. Without it, in many fterd foils, and ex-
pofed fituations, we fhould not have had a fpecimen of other thri-
ving ufeful timber trees, where now we have beautiful plantations
of Oak, Elm, eS^c. Thus, though nothing is farther from my
intention than to depretiate the Scots Fir, yet I muft beg being
allowed to mention dthers, and which I do on the mofl folid of
all foundations, experience, that will produce' the fame falutary
cffecls in ten or twelve years they have done in twenty, and that
by eafier and cheaper methods than even the fmall expence of
railing them.

The plants I mean to fubftitute in the place of Firs, are the
different kinds of Poplars, and the large Maple, in Scotland
vulgarly called the F/une Tree: Thofe being of infinitely quicker
growth than the Firs, can be planted of confid^mb'le fizes on the

iiivji^i-' ex ^

C46 TREATISE on

pooreft lands with fafetv, and will of courfe fooner effe(fl all the
benefits that can be derived from them.

I HAVE long thought we are more alarmed than hurt from
the common impreffion of hard winters being fo generally bane-
ful to our hardy deciduous plantations, and believing that then
only the Ihelter from Firs or other plants is moft materially ufe-
ful. That we have feen two or three winters which have hurt
hardy plants when young, or new planted out, mufh be acknow-
ledged ; but the cafe is far from being common, and for one
lofs of that kind, we have fuftained many by the violence of the
winds in the I'ummer months, when the trees, pregnant with
their juices, and loaded with leaves, are fo heavy as to yield to
the tempeft, the roots at that time being an unequal balance to
their bodies, whence thefe roots are often torn afunder in the
growing fcafon, bleed much, are apt to canker, and llowly, if
ever, recover ; which, in the moll violent winter ftorms, is fel-
domer the cafe, when the plants, much lighter, firmer in their
fhoots, and diverted of their leaves, lefs oppofe themfclves to, and
are more rarely conquered by the winds.

It has already been mentioned, that the trees muft be accom-
modated to the diJierent foils on which they are planted ; and it
cannot be too much inforced, to make this obicrvation with the
greatefl attention and judgment you have, or are capable of pro-
curing, over all the various parts of your intended wood or fo-
rcft, wherein, 1 am forry to, fay, we have hitlierto been extreme-
ly, defective. Notwithllanding then what has been faid on the
cultui:ejof the different trees here treated of, and the ftations Na-
ture has bell adapted them for, it may not be amifs to repeat

F O R E S T - T 11 E E S. 247

fome of thefe particulars, to make what is here meant more rea-
dily underftood, without a tedious reference to the particular
trees.

I CANNOT help obferving, we farely betray a general want of
tafte in the difpofition of our woods, as in few of them any re-
gard to elegance or beauty is paid, and which,, if we did, would
add nothing to the expence. Why then may not all our planta-
tions be diveriified in walks as various as thofe in our moft
finillied and adorned wildernefles ? This, though nor io fpright-
ly and chearful a fcene; would be a no lefs magnificent one than
the other, and as agreeable to many rural taftes : At the fame
time, I fliould be alhamed to appear infenfible of the pleafure re-
fulting from a well-planted wildernefs kept in fine order, and
deck'd with its charming variety of hues. Thus too the free
circvdation of air in thefe walks and alleys would be communi-
cated through the quarters of trees, make them more healthful
and vigorous, and prevent many mortal difeafes incident to large
crowded plantations by a fupprellion of the damp vapours, which
creates a mouldinefs hurtful to the plants, and contaminates the
air itfelf : Befides, thofe walks, well plowed, fallowed, and laid
fmooth, would, from the great litter of leaves 'fallen, and blown
upon them, foon become good grafs, as has been obfcrvcd under
th.e article Poplar..

The beft feafon for planting the light grounds, is as foon as
pofhble after the beginning of Oiftober ; for the moiil; and heavv,
February and March. At thefe periods, your ground being
prepared in one or other of the ways mentioned, and flaked out
in tlie figure you chufe, proceed to planting as follows :

r4S TREATISE on

If the field is difpofed in the -vvikiernefs way, let every q\iar-
tcr be bounded by a row of Po})lar5, at two, or two and a half
feet afunder ; in the heavieH: and wetteft places, let them be of
the Lombard kind, and in the thinner and lighter, of the white,
which, of all the fpecies, will make the quickeft progrefs in fuch
foils ; and, in order to make them yield a fpeedier flielter, by-
growing clofe, let them be pruned or clip'd in the fides for two
or three years. Thefe Poplars ought to be planted, either root-
ed, or from cuttings four or five feet higli, if fuch can conveni-
ently be procured, or as near that fize as you can. If the whole
ground is to be planted, without being divided by walks, after
going round it as mentioned for the quarters, let lines of Pop-
lars, running from fouth to north, be planted at about a hun-
dred, or, in very cold expofed fituations, at eighty feet afunder.

Th e next thing to be adverted to, is the difpolition of the
Planes in I'uch a manner as will bcft promote the growth of the
odier more valuable trees ; to effedl which, I think every fecond
line ought to be of them not next the Poplai's, which will fuffi-
ciently ihelter whatever is immediately near them, but amongft
the U'ees intended for a longer continuance.

Th f. diflance of the trees over the whole plantation, (the
bounding and dividing lines of Poplars excepted), I think, as a
juft medium, ought to be five feet every way ; for whatever the
advocates for very thick planting may advance, the confequen-
ces arifmg from it, are generally more fatal, than erring in the
oppofite extreme. Plants may be too much crowded, or, what
the gardeners call drawn ^ as well as too much expofed ; and the
flielter of the Plane and Poplar trees, (for the time fhall here be

F O R E S T - T R E E S, 249

ciireaed, will put them beyond the want of any further aflill-
ance, than they mutually communicate to one another.

ce

Having planted then one half of your intended Forcft, fi..
from ftanding water, with Planes, in rows ten feet afunder and
five in the row, confult the genius of every fpot in it, that the
remaining more valuable plants may be difpofed on the differ-
ent foils they moft delight in, which, in general, I take it to be
as follows :

In the moft generous, deep, but dry foils, the Walnut, with
Englifli, Scots, and Cornifli Elms ; in the moift and heavv, the
Dutch Elm ; in coarfe and ftoney, the Chefnut and Afh ; in
light and fandy, the Larch and Beech ; and in clays of all qua-
lities, tho' fwampy and mofly, the Oak. Thefe are the foils
moft univerfally prevailing in Great Britain, and thofe the trees
nature feems beft to have fitted for fuch foils. They are alfo of
the greateft value, and moft general ufe, tho', if a little orna-
ment and variety is wanted, a fmall mixture of the hardy Ameri-
can forts may be added ; but profitable returns being the princi-
pal object of this Effay, to that I chufe, in a great meafure, to
confine myfelf.

Where the grounds are various, and the trees thus properly
adapted to that variety of foils, an extenfive plantation, diverfified
with groups of different trees in its different quarters, will ap-
pear far more chearful and pidurefque, than one imiform wood
of the fame kind.

Such a Foreft, and to be planted in the manner I here de-
fcribe, I mean fhould be in a flat field, or at leaft one not
I i

2SO TREATISE on

abounding vfith many large ftones, for wlilch reafon only, I have-
altogether excluded the Scots Fir ; but in mountainous rocky
fituations this plan will not fucceed near fo well, as the Poplars-
and Planes cannot have their roots covered enough to nourilh
them at firft planting : In fuch places therefore, Firs are per-
haps the greatefl improvement can be made, planted not above,
three years old, when, after two years more growth, Oaks and other
trees may be interfperfed wherever the land will receive them.
The culture of the Scots Fir then, fo far from being difcounte-
nanced, fliould, with the greateft propriety, be rather increafed ;
as there are flill, in moft parts of Great Britain, more large
trads of mountainous, beggarly, and otherways unimproveable
llirface, than the greateft induftry of feveral ages will probably
overtake, and cover with thefe plants. But I fhall now proceed
to the ages and fizes of trees beft fitted, in forbidding foils and.
fituations, to make our Foreft flourilh.

Some advife, that the beft manner of rearing woods, is by
fowing the feeds on the fpot. But of this I cannot approve, for
feveral reafons : It is, in tlie firft place, a very tedious praclice,.
allowing it to fucceed, which, on many occafions it will not,
the ground muft be as well prepared, kept as clear of weeds as
in the nurfery garden, the land as regularly dug about the
plants, and in all refpeds as well cultivated as thefe. It is a
fmall proportion of the feeds fown, and the plants that ought to
arife from them, which can remain in the wood to make trees,
and, bv raifmg what is fuperlluous, the plants meant to conti-
nue are generally much injured from thofe ftanding clofe toge-
ther about them, which circumftances will be attended with a.
much greater expence in the end, before thefe plants are out of.
dann-cr, than, at once making a handfome ftulllied plantation.

¥ O R E S T - T R E E S. 251

I AM therefore againfl railing a Foreft, after this manner, with
other plants than the Wahuit, Chefnut, Evergreen Oak, and a
few of the other nut-bearing trees, that do not eafily remove,
or grow freely after it, and even of thofe only where timber,
without regard to fruit, is defired ; in which cafe, fuch are pre-
ferable to the beft otherways cultivated plants, where the land
is not extremely bad.

Other gardeners, and indeed I am afraid the greateft part
of them, argue in defence of planting feedlings tv/o years old,
as the moft hardy, and likely to fucceed, in our barren, cold and
uncultivated foils. This pradice, however univerfal, and long
fandified by cuftom, has no weight with me, as, from many
trials, I have found it abfurd ; and I cannot help declaring, I
think it both againft nature and common fenfe, nor can I in anv
other way account either for its beginning or continuance, than
the bad culture too generally given our trees in the nurfery, to
which being remoA^ed from the feed-bed, they are dibbled in
without a proper reduclion of their roots, fo as to procure abun-
dance of frefh fpreading ones, and crowded fo thick too-ether, as
foon to become much worfe than good feedlings, from hard car-
roty roots, without mouths to feed themfelves, and tall flender
bodies, unable to bear a gentle breeze of wind.

I PRESUME no honeft fenfible gardener will deny, that feed-
ling trees in general have one downright top-root, with few fmall
roots and fibres, in comparifon of fuch as have been raifed, their
roots fliortened, and tranfplanted ; or that thefe tranfplantations,
repeated at proper periods, will not ftill increafe the roots, and
otherways, by change of food and fituation, render the plants
I i 2

252 TREATISE on

more hardy. If this is the cafe, it appears to me no lefs ridi-
culous to aflfert, a young tender plant fliould be as hardy, juft
taken from a warm feed-bed, and immediately expofed to a bleak
fituation, and cold uncultivated foil, as that an infant from the
breaft fhould be able to bear the inclemency of the feafons, and
live and thrive with coarfer food, and lefs llielter, than a child
v.dio has been properly nouriflied for fome confiderable time,
and inured by degrees to various changes.

The analogy between the animal and vegetable creation,
which in many circumftances are very intimate, is not too far
ftretched in the prefent comparifon, nor is what I have advanced
a fpeculative notion ; but to exemplify it, I Ihall mention the
following experiments to that effecl, and which 1 have repeatedly
tried :

I HAVE fown the feeds of Forefl Trees on the poorefh ground,
planted feedlings, and ftrong well-nurfed trees, from five to ten feet
high, on the fame grovmd, and at the fame time, where the old
well-cultivated plants have frequently made goodly trees, when
the feedlings have periihed, and, from the fterility and coldnefs of
the foil, the feeds have not fo much as vegetated. In fliort, the
mouths of feedlings are not fo well fitted as larger plants, to
draw fufficient nourifhment from crude, rank, and uncultivated
foils ; and as I have truly found what is here faid in many in-
ilances to be the cafe, I am obliged to believe, that the general
practice of planting feedlings in poor, and larger trees in good
land, Ihould be quite reverfed ; but ftill attending to this mofl
eflentia] and indlipenfible circumftance, that the' large plants have
been removed as dircded, and otherways properly cultivated.

FOREST-TREES.

253

Having then planted your nurfing trees, and rejeded both
the fowing of feeds, and planting of fcedlings in your >vood ; I
fhould advife your plants to be four or five years old, that is,
to have been removed at the proper times already mentioned
from the feed-bed, and cultivated in the jiurfcry two or three
years, more or lefs according to their kinds, and the quality of
the ground whereon they fland ; with fuch finilh your plantation,
in the manner, and at the diftances of the Planes. Thofe trees
w^ill be able to get the better of all weeds, but a few of the large-
growing forts ; and the land may be cultivated hy hoeing in
fummer, and digging in the autumn and fairing months, or
not, agreeable to the expence you chufe to lay out, tho', if chat
expence is bellowed for three or four years, the more vigorous
growth of the trees will foon amply repay it.

Wh EN thefe plants have ftood four years, but not .longer, take
away every fecond Plane, and, in two years more, the remain-
der of them, with every I'econd tree of the other kinds, Avhich
will leave the whole plantation at ten feet afunder.

The trees raifed cannot be loft to a perfon who has- any con-
fiderable extent of land, few large Britilh eflates being yet too
much ci'owded with wood over all parts of them. They may
be planted on the farms in hedge-rows, and many various
ways to great advantage, and would (land a great deal of money
from a nurferyman ; fo that the expence of this plantation ought
not to be grudged, having effecled two of the moft capital
points on any ellate, a thriving wood, and a good iiH.;;fery.

From this time thefe plants will require no further trouble,
than pruning away the ill-placed fuperfluous brxinchcs-, till they

254

TREATISE

'bring money, which, they o^j^ght to do in eighteen or twenty
years from planting, at which time three-fovirths more of the
remaining trees, and all the Poplars, muflbe taken away, which
reduces them to twenty feet afunder, and when the value of the
timber, cut for country ufes, will certainly exceed both the ex-
pcnce of labour and reat of the ground, much more than any other
crop will ; befides, the trees at thefe diftances will not hereafter
prevent tlie ground from yielding good pafture, and the value
of the plantation, for fifty years afterwards, will annually in-
creafe in greater proportion than before.

Though I have mentioned the whole trees in this Foreft to
be planted the fame feafon, yet if the nurfmg ones, which are
fooii to be taken away, were planted a year or two before the
othei-s, particularly in very bad foils, and expofed fituations, it
would, in place of lofmg, be gaining time, as, from their imme-
diate and extraordinary Ihelter, the better trees would have lit-
tle check from the winds the firfl feafon, which when they meet
with in a violent degree, often keeps them at a fland for feveral
years. It is therefore of the greatefl confequence, that every
poffiblc aiTiftance be given them, to encourage a free growth at
being fu-fl planted out.

Notwithstanding of warmly recommending flicker at firfl
planting, as the molt probable means of fooneft procuring a
llourifliing plantation, yet I mufl no lefs recommend attention
in taking away the neceffary proportions, where too thick, fea-
fonably as they advance ; from which negletfl, I have often feen
many extenfive plantations of noble Oaks ruined, by being
overhung with Scots Firs, which not admitting a free circulation

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 25J

of air, they have been drawn iip to the mofl difproportioned
heights, and this misfortune nothing but cutting over will ef-
fcclually cure ; but the different periods here directed for thin-
ning them, will generally anfvver your intentions.

From the late and now univerfal tafte in all new and expen-
five defigns in the garden w-ay, of throwing a large extent of
groiind about the houfe into lawns of grafs, many fruit-trees,
which in former times generally grew in the kitchen garden,
and thefe gardens adjoining to the houfe, are now deftroyed,
from whence common fruit has rifen in price to the full propor-
tion of every other article in life. I cannot therefore but be-
lieve, that an orchard, which, fenfibly planted, will little or not
at all impede the grow^th of grafs, corn, and other vegetables,
would foon become the higheft improvement the lands in this
country are capable of receiving : But a differtation on Fruit-
trees being foreign to the prefent fabjecl, I only mention, that
if fome of the mofl favourable quarters for fruit were inclofed,
and planted with flrong well-cultivated trees of them, in four-
teen or fixteen years, every tenth acre of the orchard would cer-
tainly pay the whole expence laid out in our Foreft, and lay the
foundation, withoiit further expence, of an cftate, iacreafmg
confiderably for ages. Apples and Pears, the moll certain and
profitable flandard fruits, will fucceed in land of any tolerable
depth, though coarfe and heavy, having been expoied and me-
liorated by the winter's froft and fummer's fun.:

z^ T R E A T 1 S E

Chapter XLI.

On making TREES fit for Removal, that have flood
uncultivated and too thick in Nurferies or Woods.

THOUGH the longefl experience, and mofl extcnfive know-
ledge in planting, will not for many years, if ever, bring
overgrown unremov'd trees to the comely figure and luxuriant
growth of thofe that have been reared from young plants, ac-
cording to the preceding dirc5!:ioas, yet, where one cannot pro-
cure fuch, and have of the former, they may tui-n them to ac-
count, and foon make a figure in a bare field, or about a new-
built houfe.

The trees worthy of this labour ought not to exceed four-
teen or fixteen years growth, or from twenty to twenty-five feet
high, as, if older, in general the cutting of either their roots or
bodies will be doing them a violence they will never recover fo
perfeftly as to become handfome trees, but ever continue in a
fprcading bufliy form.

Th e forts to be treated in this manner, are the different fpe-
cies of Elms, of which the Englilh, as the mofl afpiring, and
that fooneft recovers its wounds, is fiir the mofl proper. The
Lime will bear this operation at a great fize, foon heal, and
afterwards may be formed with eafe to any fliape you pleafe :

F O R E S T - T R E E S. 257

'I lie Afli and Oak will likeways admit of cxittlng well enough at
the ages mentioned, but thcfe ought to be cut higher in proportion
to their bulk than tlie former, and where the bark is fmoother
and thinner ; from whence the Ihoots will be fewer, and rife in
a more perpendicular diredion. In this direction, and in the
ilrength of the branches, they will be much affifted, by rubbing
off all the tender fhoots, but one or two of the mod erect and
vigorous, from the beginning till the end of June.

The Beech, the Platanus, the large-leaved Maple, the Horn-
beam, the Sweet Chefnut, the Horfe Chefnut, the Poplar, and
the Laburnum, will 'alfo bear being reduced in height, but will
not afterwards grow lofty, or in the pyramidal form, but, in de-
tached trees, on lawns, or other graling fields, may make grace-
ful fpreading plants, and afford an agreeable falutary retreat for
iRen or cattle from the fcorching fummer heats.

Th e firft ftep to be taken in this bufinefs, is, to mark out
what trees (if any) you intend Ihould remain on the fpot, as al-
fo thofe you^mean to remove for planting again, leaving them
at fuch dillances, as that there may be fufEcient bounds for
making a deep trench round each plant for undermining them
the following feafon. This being done, in autumn grub out by the
roots all the others, and trench the ground at leafl three feet
deep, of whatever quality it be, which will encourage many
fpreading roots from the fides, and better prepare them for what
is to enfue. Early in the fucceeding fpring, cut your trees over
at a fuitable height, a good deal flanting, immediately above
where buds are, or branches have been, and rub over the v.-ound
with pitch, or cover it with a plaifler of clay mix'd with horfe-
K k

258 TREATISE on

thing, fuch as has been direcled for grafts. It is impoflible
juftly to afcertain the height thefe trees fhould be reduced to,
that depending on their proportions, as the flrong-bodied
plants miift be cut higher than the more llender of the fame
height. I fliall fuppofe them, from {landing very thick, to be
drawn the length of twenty-five feet; in that event, cutti'-g
them from twelve to fifteen feet high may probably be about
a proper medium, but the precife ftandard mud depend on
fome little knowledge in the operator, or rather director, as
indeed the wounding or pruning of trees of every kind, and
for every particular purpofe, ought not to be left to the barbarity
of common labourers, but have more attention beflowed, and
gentler treatment given them, tlian they ufually meet with.

The general pra6lice in cafes of this kind, is reducing both
the tops and roots of the tree at the fame time : But this is a fe-
verity they will not bear ; for though they may outlive it a few
years, it will be but in a confumptive way, from which they
never fully recover : Therefore, to do this effe(5lually, two years
more muft at leall be employed.

Th e following fpring then, make a trench between three and
four feet deep, and full four feet wide, round all the plants to
be removed : Bend the tree fo far to one fide, as that you can
come eafily at the downright roots ; after which, with a fliarp
hatchet, cut them acrofs, but leave the fide-roots, particularly
diofe nearefl the furface, as little difturbed as niiiy be : This
being done, replace the plant in its former upright (lation, and
d)jow back the eartli taken from about it.

P O R E S T - T R E E S. 259

A YEAR after, open the fame trench, and fliorten all the fpread-
ing fide-roots, which will much increafe their number, and
make the earth adhere to them when the trees are raifed for
^ood, and which they may be the fucceeding fcafon, but it will
Hill be better if they remain another. It may naturally occur,
that if any of the trees are to remain, reducing their overgi'own
heights is all that is neceflary to be done with them.

Th k reafon of taking two or three feafons for preparing thefe
roots in the manner diredled, is, that the ftrength of the trees
may be as little impaired as poffible, particularly fuch as you
intend to grow lofty in the pyramidal foriu, which, when all
the wounding operations are performed at once, they cannot do,
as the fhoots, from weaknefs, will not grow perpendicular, but
loofe and flraggling, though, by ufmg thefe precautions, and ha-
ying this patience, which in the main is loling no time, the up-
right fhoots will be flraight and vigorous before the trees are
raifed, and, being furnifhed with plenty of young frcfh roots,
they will rife with bulks of earth about them, and continue in
a healthful ftate.

For the bcfl manner of planting thefe trees, fee the Elm.

N

POSTSCRIPT.

JF the foregoing Treatise is favonrahly received by the
Public^ another, o« Fru it-Trees, njuill fuddenly folloiv, prin-
cipally 'written a good many years ago, and before any part of
this ni'as farther advanced than Notes taken from the different
effects of differe7it praMices. What is meant to fucceed, ivas
founded during very exteiiftve practice, and the refnlt of a great
variety of annually repeated experiments and obfervations for a-
bove tiventy years ; during ivhich time, fortune nvas favourable,
and liberally afforded all the aids neccffary to make the fullefl and
vioji accurate enquiries into the nature of that fiibjecl, being pro-
vided ivith a confidcrable extent of ground in the happiefl fitu-
ation this comitry tvill admit, and a greater variety of the better
kinds of foil than I have ever known in that extent. Thefe
favourable opportunities ivere not for fonie time given in vain :
A great number of ivall, efpalier, and ftandard Fruit-trees, vuere
planted out— for all the different purpofes, and in all the different
forms hitherto directed or praclifed : Hence every opportunity of
trflruction ivas given, and the materials for the propofed publi-
cation ivere collected.

From the latenefs of otir Spring, and fjjortnefs of our Summer
months, ive are, by ifual practice, incapable of ripening the bejl
kinds of French Fruits, even on our ivarmefl fouth ivalls ; and
our common efpalier and Jlandard kinds, that come late in Au-
tumn, are, many of them, from ivant of maturity, unhealthy, — and
all of them far from perfection.

POSTSCRIPT.

// thciij attended ivith many other agreeahk c'lrciirvjlanccs^ a
method JJiall be plainly pointed out for ripening our Winter Fruits^
in all their various Jituations^ at leaji three v^'^eeks earlier than
they noiv are, and at the fame time improving them both in fize
and favour, I muf imagine fuch a difcovery ought lo intille a man
to- the proteciion and encouragement of the Public, as the effeBs
arifng from it ynvfl be both honourable and profitable to the ivhole
if and of Great Britain. By profecuting this plan, ive flyouldy
to my certain knoivledge, eat at leaf as good fruit at Edinburgh
as they noza do at London, — and, as near as I can judge, much
about as good at London as they do at Paris.

I am very fenfble, that to ignorant and illiterate Gardeners
this ivill appear a I'idiculous, and even to thofe of competent
knoivledge and obfer-vation, a fanguine attempt ; but I can honefly^
and ivill therefore boldly affirm, from no fighter a foundation than
having already done fo, that I can not only perform the utmof
circumfance here advanced, but do it likeivays by eafy means,
and ivithout any additional expcnce to the ifual culture ivorth
naming.

The original bent of my genius inclining me to the fudy of Fruits^
and my firfl Effays on Gardening being experiments on improving
their culture, I have long intended the publication now propofed ;
but a bad fate of health, beftdcs the great expence of Plates, &c.
that muf neceffarily attend fich a ivork, and fome other unlucky
circumfances, has hitherto prevented me : And now I am not forry
it ivas delayed, as the longer I have lived, and during the
farther continued courfe of my obfervations, I have ever found
that kindly warmth proceeding from the fhelter of Foref-trees,
and Hedges, no lefs efhitial tozvards the produBion of generous

POSTSCRIPT.

Fruits, than other common -ocgetable crops ; luhencc the Treatife
nonv prefented, ought naturally to precede the other defigned.

Tho many are the examples I could give from the impro'uements
made on the culture of Fruit, — it may here be fufficient only to
mention one : That I have eat my oiun Golden Pippins at Edinburgh^
fully ripe, double the common fize, and in all refpeils in *he
higheji perfeBion^ the beginning of November. Upon the ivhole^
had I a thoufand lives at command, I ivould fiake or rijque
them all^ -without the fnallejl anxiety, on the fuccefs of what
is above mentioned.

As I have noticed the indifcretion of f owe Authors, by -writing
on all the various branches of Gardening, — it may here be
neceffary to inform the igjiorant, that I do not fubjeil myfelf to
that juji cenfure by the propofed -work. The culture of Fruit and
Foref -trees, in many material circumfances, are fimilar, and the
fludy of them entirely confflent voith one another, — or rather, but
t'wo parts of the fame plan.

Af