IN UELATION TO THE DUEABILITY OF TIMBER. 281 



it a compact mass. The respiratory and digestive process of 

 the tree does not exert any influence upon it, it is out of the pale 

 of circulation. But all its imperfectly organized tissues, bloated 

 as they are by the accumulation of undigested and watery fluids, 

 remain mixed up with it ; for the centre of the tree is composed 

 of the first-formed layers of wood, when it experienced the 

 worst management, and when modern scientific pruning unspa- 

 ringly robbed it of its most essential organs, its leaves. It may 

 possibly be urged, that as pruning takes place in the winter 

 season, the circle of wood of the preceding summer's growth is 

 complete, and that no detrimental effects can be experienced by 

 the tree in consequence. But it must be urged, in opposition to 

 this, that each layer of w^ood, while in the condition of alburnum, 

 is vital, and performs vital functions ; that each year it is under- 

 going a solidifying process ; and that each separate layer of 

 alburnum bears a certain relation to each other layer, and all to 

 the leaves. "With such facts as tiiese, we have a forcible ex- 

 ample of the utility of leaves. And even if pruning j^oung 

 plantation timber were not so prevalent as it is, the crowded 

 manner in which the trees are placed, and the, to a great extent, 

 unnecessary shelter by which they are surrounded, render the 

 tissues of the leaves and, as a necessary consequence, their func- 

 tions, of a very imperfect character ; for it is a universally esta- 

 blished rule in the whole of Nature's operations, that she possesses 

 nothing that is superfluous. Does a plant become feeble or lack 

 the means of growth ? the organs by which such means would be 

 used become diminished also. Are the facilities of respiration 

 scanty ? so are the means. Is an abundance of food to be pro- 

 cured? the modes of applying it are rapidly increased. The 

 relations between cause and effect are ever preserved in their true 

 balance. 



Now I imagine that there is little fear of being accused of 

 dogmatism, in asserting that the trees from which the timber 

 used in some of our ancient edifices, and which has witlistood the 

 action of time for centuries, were the production of naturally 

 sown timber, of trees which had never known the attentions of 

 man. In feudal times men were too much occupied in warfare, 

 in political and religious antagonism, to turn their attention to 

 the peaceful arts, to planting for the good of posterity. Isolated 

 cases would probably be found, but not to any extent. There is, 

 I believe, no good evidence to prove that the " New Forest," in 

 Hampshire, was originally planted by man. The Norman king 

 probably set apart the extensive domain (60,000 acres) for the 

 gratification of his hunting propensities ; but that he " depopu- 

 lated thirty-six villages" to form the space on which to plant 

 the forest may, I think, be set down as a traditionary romance. 



