into the pit. After waiting a year or two, when the intervals became completely filled with fresh growths, the four cross roots, and also the tap, were then reduced, and the tree removed," with as much of the clod about the roots as possible." This ingenious process, which, in either way, saved the tree from decapitation, and, consequently, from disfigurement, has been deservedly recorded by Evelyn and Wise, and all succeeding writers.*

It must be acknowledged, that there was great ingenuity, and a considerable acquaintance with Wood, displayed in these important improvements by Lord Fitzharding. As Grew had by this time written, and the researches by Malpighi, respecting the Circulation of the Sap, had begun to be known all over Europe, it seems surprising, that this ingenious nobleman should have stopped here. By advancing a step further, and applying that interesting doctrine to the art, he might have brought it to a state of certainty and precision, to which little could have been added by the industry of his successors. It was (to compare great things with small), like the ill fortune of the Romans, in missing the discovery of the art of printing by movable types, when, as their pottery indicates, they may be said to have possessed that of Stereotype.

* Evelyn's Silva, Vol. I. p. 102.-Wise's Mystery of Gardening and Planting, pp. 91, 92.-Bradley, pp. 89, 108, &c.— Dict. Rust. in voc. Transplanting, &c. &c.

In this condition of the art of Transplanting, it was still necessarily confined, for want of science to direct and simplify it, to the grounds of the powerful and opulent; and sundry devices were adopted by their gardeners, and other operators, to render the practice more efficient, and to reduce the expence within moderate limits. Although numerous oxen and horses were still employed, to drag the ponderous load of earth, on which their hopes of success mainly rested, yet sundry efforts of ingenuity were exerted, for the preservation of the roots; and, as the subjects were large, even the assistance of frost was called in, for that desirable object. Soon after the fall, and before hard weather set in, a trench was opened of some extent, and at a sufficient distance from the Trees, so as to undermine the roots. Blocks and quarters of wood were next placed in the excavation, to keep up the earth. The trench was then filled with water, which was suffered to freeze; and thus, an immense and weighty mass of earth and roots, bound firmly together by congelation, was conveyed, with the Trees, to the situation intended. Here, however, it was previously necessary to preserve the mould from freezing also, by covering up the surface with fresh litter, to some distance round the new pit.

It deserves particular notice, that, in transporting these unwieldy subjects, no other than their

erect position was contemplated by the inventors. By means of a vast wooden Triangle, strongly braced with iron, both transversely and longitudinally, with a crane and pullies to work it with effect, and of which the ropes were passed under the roots, these enormous masses were raised from the ground, and placed upon a platform with low wheels; when, after being dragged by the united strength of men and horses, it was let down into the new pit, by similar apparatus.* These were gigantic operations, and such as required machinery of the most powerful and expensive kind. It is not a great many years, however, since feats of the same description were performed at Blenheim, and other large English places: And it sometimes happened, when the excavation was made at an uncommon distance from the Trees, and a sufficient mass of earth obtained for supplying the roots with nourishment, that the tops were preserved from decay. But we may easily suppose, that planters only, like a Governor of Brazil, or a German Elector, would undertake the execution.

From the time of Evelyn to that of Brown (the well-known professor of Landscape Gardening), that is, for a period of about threescore years, we hear little of Transplanting in England; and, had it not been for the exertions of the latter, and for the kindred art, to which he gave so much cele

Evelyn, Vol. I. p. 103.-Dict. Rust. in voce Transplanting.

brity, it might have sunk altogether into oblivion. That enterprising genius clearly perceived, that his fortune had placed him at the head of a new and popular school of Design, which, from the novelty of its attractions, promised ere long to rival painting itself. As the new artists possessed already the privilege, not only of appropriating the colours, but even of working with the materials of Nature, so they appeared to want nothing, but the power of giving Immediate Effect to their pictures, in order to facilitate the competition, if it did not altogether turn the balance in their fa

vour.

With the view, therefore, of obtaining this decided advantage in the construction of his landscapes, Brown diligently applied himself to the improvement of Transplanting large Trees for Park effect, and strove, with great zeal, to bring it into repute, among his noble and wealthy employers. Instead of maintaining the upright position of the Trees during transportation, as had hitherto been practised, he devised the method of carrying them horizontally, and for that purpose constructed the TRANSPLANTING MACHINE, which, since his time, has been in pretty general

use.

This efficient implement, was, like most useful contrivances, of very simple structure. It consisted of a strong Pole of considerable length, with two high Wheels, and acting on an iron Ax

which was placed at right angles to it. At the extremity of the Pole there was a smaller Wheel, that turned on a pivot, and was used for Trees of more than ordinary magnitude. The two main Wheels were of great strength, made nearly upright, or, in the workman's phrase, very little "dished." A strong Cross-bar was bolted on the axle, with a space in the middle, gradually hollowed out for receiving the stem of the Tree, of whatever size it might be. According to Brown's method, the top was pretty severely lopped or lightened, and sometimes quite pollarded. The roots were next cut round, to the depth of the fibres, and only three feet out from the body, and the Machine was brought up, upon its wheels, as close as possible to the Tree. The pole was set upright, and applied to the stem, to which it was then lashed in the firmest manner. By a rope fixed to the top of the Pole, it was, last of all, forcibly drawn down by several men's strength; and thus, the stem and the pole of the Machine, forming a lever of great power, forced or tore up the roots from their under-bed, with as many fibres adhering to them, as escaped laceration; leaving the Tree suspended horizontally on the cross-bar, and ready to be drawn away, root foremost, as the artist might require it.

This, we must own, was no very gentle treatment of the roots, any more than of the branches.