1886.] LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. 711 



The analogy alluded to Letween the roots and leaves of a plant 

 and the mouth and lungs of an animal rcspectively, is not in 

 any degree strained, but rather is, in so far as the differences of 

 organic structure that exist between those two forms of life will 

 admit, perfect. That " tea plants will live without leaves " for 

 a time is true (so also will plants generally), but that they will do 

 so for long or indefinitely is an error borne out by everyday ex- 

 perience. Eesponsive action between the leaves and the roots 

 must be sustained, else there can be no living and thriving for 

 any length of time in any plant. The herbaceous condition of the 

 shoots that spring from the roots of recently felled trees enable them 

 to fulfil the functions of leaves for a time, till leaves are put forth, 

 and prove that nature is not without resource when by accident or 

 design disturbance of the balance of functional action takes place. 

 " Practical commercial forestry " cannot possibly be benefited by the 

 argument that trees may be denuded of their leaves or planted in 

 " arid soils " and yet " grow and thrive." — Ed. 



PRUNING. 



SIE, — If it be correct that nature is all-sufficient to prosecute 

 to completion the whole course of tree existence, without 

 any sort of human aid or direction, it must be apparent to all that 

 proprietors who have heretofore kept foresters and woodmen to look 

 after the prosperity and progress of their woods might have aban- 

 doned the woods to the administration of nature, and cashiered 

 those -sinecure officials. Or if proprietors believe that their woods 

 and plantations will thrive better left to the care of nature, certainly 

 these are times in which retrenchment in any shape or department 

 is not to be cast to the wind. Eather than neglect a means of 

 economy foresters ought to be cast adrift. 



This question of pruning is a question of infinite vitality in the 

 advancement and evolution of progressive forestry. It touches a 

 vital action in the system of forest management, and it cannot be 

 negatived by an audacious ISTo. The pruning of trees is like their 

 thinning, never well done when intrusted to ignorance. 



Time, the chief factor in pruning as in every other operation of 

 judicious tree-culture, is not considered an essential element of 

 success by the advocates of nature. And yet these would-be 

 disciples of nature only copy her in part. N'ow it is in the time 

 of doing the work, not only in regard to the best season, but also as 

 to the period of life, that the success or failure of the operation 

 depends. The pruning of trees (of deciduous hardwood trees such 



