PRUNING IN RELATION TO THE PRODUCTION OF TIMBER. 55 



are all aware that plants are living beings, although they have no 

 power of locomotion, and are entirely destitute of sensation. 



We propose to give a brief description of pruning, physiologi- 

 cally considered, in the form of a dialogue between a proprietor 

 and his forester, and hope that it may tend to establish sound 

 principles of practice. 



Dialogue between my Lord Buchan and his forester : — 



Lord Buchan — Having selected you to undertake the duties of 

 forester on my property, I should like to hear your opinion upon 

 pruning, the more so that you are a member of the Scottish Arbori- 

 cultural Society. I am aware that pruning is a subject to which 

 you have devoted great attention. You say that no man should 

 attempt pruning unless he is acquainted with the laws of vegetable 

 physiology. I shall therefore ask you several questions relative 

 to these laws ; and, first, What are plants 1 



Forester — Plants are organised bodies endowed with a principle 

 of life, capable of being either starved to death or fattened by 

 abundant matter ; in fact, they are analogous to animals. Plants 

 also consist of masses of tissue, both vascular and cellular, and 

 woody fibre, each performing their various offices. 



Lord Buchan — Let me hear what the root is, and what office it 

 performs. 



Forester — When a seed is deposited in the soil, and begins to 

 grow, the root is that part that strikes into the earth, and con- 

 tinues to lengthen beneath the soil, sometimes to a considerable 

 depth ; but for the healthy execution of its functions there must 

 be access of air. The office of the root is to fix the plant in the 

 soil, and to absorb food, although not absorbing by all parts of its 

 surface. The chief supply of the plant is from the extremities of 

 the newly-formed roots ; these are called spongioles, and are of the 

 most delicate structure, and easily injured, therefore, in removing 

 plants from one place to another, the greatest care is necessary for 

 the preservation of these organs. The spongioles have no power 

 in selecting food, but whatever the earth or air may contain, they 

 suck up, provided it be fluid enough to pass into their mouths, 

 or through the sides of their tissue, so that they are capable of 

 absorbing that which is injurious as well as that which is suitable. 



Lord Buchan — Now, tell me as to the stem — its structure and 

 development. 



Forester — The structure of stems in their earliest state is ex- 

 tremely simple, being merely a mass of cellular tissue, which is 



