down the stem ; for, as the branches increase, so do the roots ; and, vice versâ, if the branches be few and straggling, so will the roots. If there is no unnatural cause to destroy the branches, then by following up this simple easy process, from 10 to 15 or 20 years, according to circumstances, we may raise the stem of a tree to any height that may be desirable, before it is permitted to branch out in all its native beauty and wildness; or we may dispose its future form to any use or in any way fancy or taste may dictate, as I have fully explained in my publication. At the same time, those branches that have been shortened, and prevented from being extended, or "cut in " (if that should be thought a more appropriate term), when young, are rendered, by that simple and easy operation, unable to acquire that degree of thickness which would injure the quality of the future timber when converted to use; as there would be none of those great knots which are so unsightly and often injurious when timber is worked up for cabinet or other purposes. Those small branches, besides contributing so materially to the increase of the stem, roots, and quality of the timber, &c., render it more hardy, and fitter for more open and exposed situations, if it should be desirable to transplant any of them from where they may be too thick, instead of cutting them down, or, what is more likely to happen, when they become more exposed by thinning, especially where fir trees are removed. By this system, the trees acquire a strength of stem and roots in proportion to their tops, and also a hardiness to enable them to stand the cold and stormy winds.

Moreover, as they may be trained to any length of straight stems as single trees, in hedge-rows and exposed situations, by following up the system long enough, the advantages it would be of to proprietors of land, where it would not be advisable to make plantations, are incalculable, as adapted to planting in hedge-rows, with the least possible injury to the land. In the hedge-rows of arable pasture and meadow land, how desirable would it be to have fine, tall, straight, handsome, and useful timber trees, instead of those low, spreading, shrub-like, useless trees (except for fuel), which are generally to be found in hedge-rows at the present day, and which are such a continual annoyance to the occupiers, from their unsightliness and the great injury they do to the crops by their excessive spread of boughs so near to the ground! I would here observe, that when hedge-rows are planted, trees should be chosen whose roots do not run near the surface, or produce suckers. Besides their ungraceful appearance, such ill formed trees are very injurious to the public roads, and often very troublesome to the traveller, when they are suffered to branch out in low,

spreading, shrub-like heads, which seldom attain to any considerable height; and when it becomes necessary to divest them of any of their great overgrown side boughs with the axe or saw, they become most unsightly things, and are generally good for very little when finally cut down. Any persons who have travelled much on the public roads must have observed this, if the contemplation of trees ever entered their minds; and how easily such evil consequences might be obviated, if the Billingtonian System were rightly understood and practised! All commissioners of roads ought to know it and have it practised; and hence the necessity of an Arboricultural Society, as suggested in my publication, for the improvement of the backward state of the much neglected art of arboriculture, and for the improvement and instruction of persons to perform or direct such operations. Then we might hope to see the art universally known and practised in this empire, otherwise it will be long before the prevailing errors are rooted out, and a better system prevails; then we might have handsome trees by the sides of the public roads, with fine, clear, straight stems of any height that might be thought advisable for such situations, when they would branch out into lofty branching heads, which would form an agreeable shady canopy in summer, while through the stems the air would circulate to dry the roads after rains; and in winter, . when most wanted, the more horizontal rays of the sun would shine below the branches, to comfort the traveller, and dry the roads. It is astonishing how soon trees will attain a great height, with strength of stem, when my system is pursued, by preventing the side branches from extending too far and getting too large, and by encouraging one leading shoot to form the main trunk.

When the side branches have performed all their necessary functions, and the tree is sufficiently advanced in height and magnitude to do without them, they may be taken off, to render the stem clear and free from knots, similar to those trees that grow in the interior of woods, and have been divested of their side branches by natural causes. The branches of some sorts of trees would probably die of themselves when the top gets above to shade them, but not generally, because of the free access of light to the stems; so that in such open situations they would have to be removed by the knife, as by my system the branches would never be much thicker than a man's thumb when taken off.

But of as still great importance would it be if introduced in coppices of underwood, where every shoot necessary to be left might be trained and wonderfully improved for the various

purposes such produce is generally converted to, without any waste or loss; also in pleasure-grounds, ornamental plantations, parks, and even orchards, as most of the ornamental flowering trees and shrubs may be trained with clear straight stems to various heights, as fancy or taste may suggest, which would increase the various forms of which they are susceptible. Some might be trained to form handsome tall trees, others of a less stature, and others again left as shrubs; so that some would appear taller in the rear of others. Then, when it became necessary to remove or cut any away for future improvements, alterations, &c., the stems of such trees would be valuable to the turner and cabinet-maker, and for various other uses.

How easy, for instance, would it be to train the Portugal laurel to a fine straight stem, by pinching or breaking out the terminal or leading buds at from 18 in. to 2 or 3 ft. from the stem, or cutting in the terminal shoots at that distance, till the stem had arrived to any height at which it might be thought desirable to begin to form the head; when the small side branches could be taken off, and, in a year or two, the stem would assume a clean smooth appearance when the small wounds were healed over. Then we should have some fine Portugal laurel trees, instead of those great spreading bushes with several naked branches.

The common laurel might be trained by the same method; also the laburnum, the hawthorn, bird-cherry or hag-berry, crab, and holly; in fact, any of our common ornamental flowering trees and strongest shrubs. Various kinds of fruit trees raised from seeds may be introduced into woods, and trained by this system to valuable timber trees. Especially to the walnut tree, whose timber is so valuable, it would be of very great advantage; also to the locust, whose branches are so brittle and liable to be broken by the wind; to the tulip tree, Oriental and Occidental plane trees; in short, to any of the hardy, deciduous, exotic, forest trees.

Also, what immense advantage to the evergreen tribe! What tall straight trees of the cedar of Lebanon, the American red cedar, or any other sorts, might be raised by this system, with clear stems free from knots to any height, if the terminal buds were broken off, or a part of the terminal shoots cut or pinched off at 2 ft. or 3 ft. from the stem, and continued to be shortened till the stem had arrived to 10, 20, or 30 ft. high, as may be the wish of the proprietor of them! When the trees had arrived to a sufficient height above the length of the intended clear stem, the shortened small branches should be

would be in future, for various purposes, valuable cedar wood of English growth. The same rules will apply to all the evergreen and resinous trees that will thrive in this country.

How beneficial would it be when applied to the hardy Scotch and larch firs, in cold and exposed situations, by breaking out the terminal buds and cutting in the terminal branches, to form thick screens on the windward and exposed quarters in such bleak situations, and in intermediate spaces in the form of hedges. I am certain, very valuable close thick hedges, for screens and shelter, might quickly be raised with Scotch firs by this system; also with spruce or larch firs. Such screens would be of immense benefit to break the severe blasts from trees of a more tender nature in their infancy, without the danger of injuring them by their overgrowth and shade. The good to be derived in the interior of plantations promiscuously planted with different sorts of trees, by shortening in of the branches, I have fully described in my publication. Room is made for the more permanent and valuable trees; and at the same time are increased the bulk, height, and regular tapering of the stem, similar to the larch and black Italian poplar in their natural mode of growth, only with branches of smaller size towards the lower part of the trees. Far different from where the side branches are suffered to extend themselves, growing thick and long, causing great injurious knots in the stems, and rendering the stems too thick at the lower end in proportion to their height, and hardly sufficient for any useful purpose: all which may be so easily avoided by my system. This is a subject I am never tired of: it would fill a volume to point out the immense national, as well as individual, advantages that must result from the practice of the Billingtonian System, when it is properly matured, understood, and practised; which makes me so anxious to have it quickly and universally known and practised.

Mr. Cobbett, in his recent publication on planting, asserts that no plants that are raised from layers, cuttings, grafts, or suckers, will ever make fine useful trees: it will still be only a limb or branch; and a limb or branch, he maintains, is never so good as a tree raised from the seed. But his own practice completely refutes his opinion; for what is his tree but a branch, after he has cut off the first shoot from the seed. Equally as absurd is it to say that a branch or limb of a tree is not so good, or of the same quality, as the trunk. What are those trees that are frequently to be met with, with two or three trunks or limbs from the same root, which were only branches at first, when the main trunk lost its leading shoot? As well might it be said that a person's arms or legs are not of the same quality

as the body. But, by my system, any trees raised from layers, cuttings, &c., may be made as valuable as if they were raised from seed.

I am often oppressed with painful feelings, that, from circumstances which I could not prevent, but, perhaps, may some time publicly explain, I am at present so situated that I have no opportunity to exemplify the system upon living subjects; but must refer my readers to my publication, wherein I have clearly shown what great improvements I had effected, and was effecting, while I was at the Chopwell Woods belonging to His Majesty. I am, Sir, yours, &c. Shrewsbury, Nov. 21. 1829.

W. BILLINGTON.

ART. VIII. Remarks on Sir Henry Steuart's Planter's Guide. By Mr. GORRIE, C.M.H.S., of Annat Gardens, Perthshire.

Sir,

WITH regard to my opinion of Sir Henry Steuart's Planter's Guide, it is in general highly favourable. He has certainly been successful in applying scientific principles to the art of planting. The historical part is sufficiently amusing, but is of little utility to the mere practical planter. To him it is of little consequence to know whether Count Maurice, Louis XIV. of France, or Charles II. of England, were the most eminent planters of their day, or whether they preceded or followed example. It is, however, something to know who was the first to set the admirable example of digging round the tree intended for removal a year or two before it was raised. For this, it seems, we are indebted to Lord Fitzharding; and, although many practical men may have since hit upon the same expedient, who may never have heard of the invention, or of the noble inventor, the operation might, with much propriety, be distinguished by the appellation of " Fitzhardising." [See Mr. Sang's Letter to Sir Henry Steuart, p. 87. infra.]

Sir Henry seems to have a particular horror at pruning, or what he calls " lopping," or "mutilation." Pruning to excess, I conceive, ought to be carefully guarded against; but, I believe, notwithstanding what practical and theoretical men may have said and written on the subject, that pruning partially a newly planted tree may be often a necessary, and always, when not overdone, a salutary practice: although I admit that it might be done with the best effect, at the same time, with the operation of Fitzhardising. In the eyes of Sir