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stead of the partition (figs. 85. m and 88.) between the pit and

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the pinery being brickwork, the upper part of it, viz. that above the tan, consists of a long door hung horizontally on hinges, and made to fall back on the flue in the pinery, for the sake of admitting the heated air of the pinery into the pit, whenever the severity of the weather renders it necessary.

The Green-house is formed by using the vinery, in the winter time, for the purpose of preserving green-house plants.

ART. XIV. On the Natural Succession of Forest Trees in North America. By J. M. of Philadelphia.

Sir,

IN Vol. III. p. 351. an extract is given from Evelyn's letter to Sir John Aubrey, stating that beech trees grew in place of oaks which had been cut down by his grandfather, and that birch succeeded beech which his brother had extirpated. In the United States the spontaneous succession of timber, of a different kind from that cut down, is well known. In the Memoirs of the Philadelphia Society for promoting Agriculture, vol. i., there are several papers on this subject, by the president, the late Richard Peters; by Dr. Mease; by Mr. John Adlum, who had long been a surveyor in the new settlements in Pennsylvania; by Dr. Caldwell, in reference to the fact in North Carolina, in Massachusetts, and in New Jersey; and a confirmation of it in the last-mentioned state, by Mr. Thomas F. Leaming. In the third volume, Mr. Isaac Wayre, son of the American general the late A. Wayre, also gives some interesting details respecting the appearance of timber trees, of a kind different from those which formerly covered the ground in his vicinity, and which had been cut down by

the American army, when encamped there in the autumn and winter of the year 1777, and spring of the following year. One of the above writers refers to the relation of Mr. Hearne (Journey to the Northern Ocean, p. 452.), for the fact of strawberries growing up wild near Churchill river, and in the interior parts of the country, particularly in such places as have been formerly set on fire; and for that of hips and raspberry bushes shooting up in great numbers, in burnt places, where nothing of the kind had ever been seen before. Cartwright is also quoted, in proof of the point. He observes, "that if through carelessness the old spruce woods are burnt, or by lightning, Indian tea first comes up, currants follow, and after them birch." (Journal of Trans. at Labrador, vol. iii. p. 225.) Nine years after the publication of this last work, McKenzie stated, that "land covered with spruce-pine, and white birch, when laid waste by fire, produced nothing but poplars:"* and yet the Edinburgh reviewer of his work very indelicately declared his disbelief of the relation. Recently, we have additional testimony on this subject. In the manual on the culture of silk, prepared in consequence of a resolution of the House of Representatives of the American Congress, and published in the session of 1828, it is stated (p. 38.) that "in Tennessee, when a native forest is cut down, if the land be enclosed, a growth of red mulberry trees soon takes place." All these statements do not admit a doubt to be entertained of the natural succession of forest timber; the fact is moreover familiar to every man who has lived in the country, and to almost every intelligent person in North America. I regret that the enterprising voyager did not live to shame the northern critic for his rudeness, and to enjoy the satisfaction of seeing his own testimony of a curious and interesting fact in natural history confirmed by others.

Philadelphia, May 1. 1829.

J. M.

ART. XV. Notice of a Machine for transplanting large Trees, in Use in Thoresby Park, Nottinghamshire. In a Letter to Mr. Mackay, of the Clapton Nursery, by Mr. BENNET, C. M. H. S., Gardener at Thoresby. Communicated by Mr. MACKAY, F.L.S. H.S., &c.

Dear Sir,

I SEND you a sketch of a machine (fig. 89.) for removing trees from 10 to 15 feet high or more, and which I think * Voyage from Montreal to the Frozen and Pacific Occans. London. 1801.

one of the best that has hitherto been in use. It was invented by the late planter of Ld. Manners,about fifteen or sixteen years ago, and used with the greatest success by him, and, since his death, by myself, on whom his department has devolved. I am so highly satisfied with this machine, that I feel con

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never attempt to plant a large tree without it; at least, if rapidity, economy, and masterly workmanship are the objects desired. It may be made by any country carpenter, of any sort of timber, and of any size. I am going to have a smaller one, than that represented by the sketch, for the transplanting of evergreen

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shrubs with balls, which will be very useful in the pleasureground.

I am, Sir, &c.

Thoresby Park, near Ollerton, Nottinghamshire,

Dec. 15. 1828.

S. BENNET.

In using this machine, the shafts (a) are first taken off by withdrawing an iron bolt (b); the body of the machine (c) is then made fast to the tree by a rope, which passes through the hole (e). The tree and the machine with the wheels are now upright; and the part of the machine over the axle (d) being placed against the lower part of the trunk above the ball, previously dug round, the tree and machine are pulled down to the horizontal position, the shafts re-attached, and the horse yoked ready to draw the tree to the hole prepared for it.

ART. XVI. Method of cultivating the Mulberry in the Government Mulberry Plantation at Nymphenburg, with a List of the different Species and Varieties grown there. By M. BISCHOF, NurseryGardener to the King of Bavaria.

rest.

THE ground selected for sowing must be well trenched, and freed from large stones. Heavy clayey earth is unfit for receiving the seeds, but light garden soil or black sandy mould should, if possible, be selected. The ground being parted off into beds, trenches of an inch deep are made at intervals of 6 in., in a longitudinal direction. The time for sowing is about the middle of May. As soon as I get my seeds I put them into a dish full of water, in which they remain for 24 hours, when the good seeds settle at the bottom, and the bad are found swimming on the surface, and may be removed from the The good seeds are then mixed with fine sand, in order that they may be sown more equally; they are thinly scattered in the trenches, and slightly covered with fine light earth. Being watered twice a day, the young plants will appear in three or four weeks. During the summer they must be kept free from weeds, the earth between them frequently loosened and watered, and be protected against excessive heat by a light shade. The mole cricket (Grýllus gryllotálpa) is my greatest enemy, and the best method I know of destroying it is by sinking oblong vessels, about 6 in. deep, and half-filled with water, in which they are caught during their nightly excursions. On

the approach of winter, the seedlings must be covered with dry leaves, to the depth of 6 in., to protect their roots from the cold. In March, when the ground is thawed, the young plants are taken up, cut down to one eye, shortened a little at the roots, and then planted into a piece of rotten ground, in rows, at distances of from 2 ft. to 24 ft. apart, and about the same distance in the row; they require no farther attention during summer than being watered and weeded. I must observe, that, in cases where two or three eyes have been accidently left on the plant, they must be afterwards cut out when they begin to push, leaving only that which makes the strongest shoot. During winter they are again covered over; and in the ensuing spring cut down, for the last time, to one eye, without being transplanted; after this they become strong enough to withstand the winter, and are allowed to form a

crown.

36

In our severe climate the following mode of grafting, called Pfeifeln (flute-grafting, greffe en flute, Thouin), is found to be preferable for the mulberry. (fig. 90.) The twigs which are cut off for grafting are kept in a cellar. As soon as the sap rises in the wildings, a grafting twig is selected of the same thickness as the wilding, or even thicker; on this twig a circular incision is made, half an inch above, and another half an inch below, the eye, and the bark between the incisions, together with the eye, peeled off. The same operation is performed on one of the branches of the wilding, close to the stem, in the crown. The bark of the wilding is then exchanged for that of the grafting twig, and the wound bound up with matting or tape, covered with grafting wax, to keep out the external air. If the bark of the grafting twig is too long, it may be reduced to fit the wood exactly. The advantage of this method is, that the grafted part cannot be distinguished from the rest, and the tree, in case the graft fails, loses nothing of its strength, as is the case in the usual mode. In the fourth year all the trees are re-transplanted, with a view of improving their roots, and giving them more space. At the same time, the branches are shortened to where the crown is to begin, and, the roots being trimmed a little, the trees are planted from 3 to 4 ft. apart. There are now about 10,000 trees of this size in the plantation.

90

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