Sir Henry Steuart was a Scottish landowner and agricultural improver. Between 1788 and 1805, he set about improving his estate at Allanton, Lanarkshire. Although suffering from poor soil, Steuart made Allanton prosperous by transplanting fully-grown trees which protected the estate from its exposed position. Around 1826, Steuart began to offer courses on tree-planting based on his own experiences and sent workmen to improve other estates in Scotland. This book, a guide to tree-planting and estate improvements, was published in 1828.