be upon uneven ground, and, still more, if on a steep bank, as sometimes happens, it presents considerable difficulty to inexperienced planters. In this case, especial care must be had, to lay the roots in a direction corresponding to the slope, level in no part, but rising from the centre, on the one side, and falling from it, on the other. Hence, when the last tier on either side is finished, it has from six to eight inches of cover over it, at the general level of the ground. This, on the side of a hill of any steepness, it requires considerable skill to accomplish, so that the main body of the roots be brought within an equal distance from the surface, and receive proper benefit from the sun and air. In the manner just now attempted to be described, the workmen, three and three together, in divisions or parties, proceed round the Tree, treating one parcel of roots after another in the same style, in succession, and, as soon as they meet, the work of distribution is completed.

At this stage of the process, it cannot have escaped the discerning reader, that, contrary to the general practice, no decalcation or consolidating of the earth has, as yet, been directed, except in the execution of the retaining bank round the nucleus of the root; and yet the entire ordering of the roots and fibres is supposed to be finished. But I have found, by long experience, that an anxiety for immediate consolidation, which most planters

possess, is not favourable to the fibrous roots of woody plants, small or great. That equability of pressure of the soil, which gradual subsidence alone can give, is not to be attained by any artificial means yet known, and, least of all, by treading, and pounding by the feet of workmen. It is one thing to fill in mould firmly round the nucleus, and to compact it with the Rammer, as above mentioned, where there is free room to operate; and another, to tread down, with the feet, layer after layer of the tenderest fibres, and finest capillary rootlets, as recommended by Marshall and others; a mode of treatment which cannot fail, after the critical period of Removal, to be extremely prejudicial to what must be considered as the true absorbents of the plant. As to the final consolidation of the surface, it shall be treated of in the sequel.

After the covering of the roots, the only thing that remains to be performed is, to fill in the rest of the earth into the pit, so that, at the stem, it shall be from twelve to fourteen inches deep. If it be winter-time, that is, between November and February, including also the latter month, a slight treading over the whole, by the workmen, is sufficient to bring about gradually, but effectually, the work of consolidation for the time, and that gentle and equable pressure, which excludes drought, and

yet admits of the roots striking freely. If it be spring, that is, between February and May, Pontey's useful method of pouring on water, is adopted, namely, to do it (as he says), with "a watering-pan with the rose taken off," or with common pails, from the height of five or six feet, as soon as the covering of mould is half finished; dashing it down, with as much force as possible, in order to wash in the mould among the roots of the plant.* On this, the remaining earth is filled in, as above, taking care to begin with the greensward, if there be any, and hand-laying it in regular strata, so as in the greatest degree to retain moisture, while it promotes solidity. Another plentiful watering is next given, in the same way; the whole is left for a day to subside; and then, when it will bear the workmen's feet, it is ultimately finished, by a complete decalcation of the surface. I have been the more particular in dwelling on this part of the Planting, as it is a subject not understood by the generality of either overseers or workmen.

It is wonderful what dexterity the workmen will acquire in these various processes, by attention and practice, under an able and active Director, particularly in that of distributing and ordering the roots. Yet probably the greatest difficulty, that such a person will experience, is to get them to perform the Handling, and to fill in the mould

*Rural Improver, pp. 88, 89.

leisurely enough, without haste or confusion, or the slurring over of any part. He will also find it a difficult matter so to arrange the different departments of work round the pit, as that the whole of the workmen are constantly carrying forward the business in hand, and that they never have to wait for what must be done, and perhaps oftener than once, by only one or two individuals; such as adjusting the position of the Tree, ascertaining the depth of the root, disengaging the pole of the Machine, fixing or loosening the bracingropes, and the like, by which means much time is often lost, and, of course, unnecessary expence incurred.

In respect to those difficult and important processes, the securing of the Tree against Wind, and the ordering of the Roots, I sensibly feel the inadequacy of the foregoing account of both. In order to be fully apprehended, they should be seen in the hands of dexterous workmen, when the efficiency of the one, and the beauty and nicety of the other would be fully appreciated. The description, as attempted above, is necessarily long, and for that reason, it may seem to many both complicated and tedious; but the processes themselves are as simple as they are effective, as has been acknowledged by all, who have examined them at this place.

Some of the chief advantages attendant on the Preservative system, obviously result from this

useful method of securing, by a kind of cup-like embankment underground, the central mass or nucleus of the root, and rendering the Tree steadfast and immovable, in spite of the utmost violence of the wind, from whatever quarter it may blow. The consequence is, that the roots being of great length, and consisting of innumerable and minute ramifications, instead of being crowded and cramped up in the ordinary manner, have as ample a scope and range of pasturage, on the fine mould which has been prepared for them, as they had in their original situations. What is of most moment of all is, that, from the singular steadfastness of the stem, they immediately naturalize themselves to the spot, and go in search of their food; without suffering agitation at a period, when an undisturbed state of the fibres affords the best hope of continued stability, and, therefore, the best earnest of success. Thus, what is planted now on this principle, gives the IMMEDIATE EFFECT OF WOOD in the present day, together with the best prospect of becoming timber of as great magnitude as the soil and climate will admit, for the succeeding generation.

That the success of Park wood, planted here on the system in question, has been extraordinary, will be admitted from this fact alone, that, although I never prop or support a Tree after removal, yet not one has been blown down in this Park, in the

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