16 UTILITY OF PRUNING AND THINNING AWAY TI-ANTS. 



is also necessary that the leaves should be duly exposed to the action 

 of the light, and to the influence of the sun and the air. Now, 

 according to this law, it must be obvious that the cutting back and 

 shortening the branches, and lessening the quantity of leaves, must 

 obstruct and retard rather than forward the production of flowers, 

 seeds, and fruit." 



Here, then, is a theory which, according to my slender knowledge, 

 is founded on strict physiological principles, and yet it is diametri- 

 cally opposed to the maxims laid down by the " Star in the East;" 

 namely, growing strong and well thinning away the branches. It 

 follows, then, as a matter of course, that one of the above axioms 

 is wrong — it is very possible they may both be so — but it is 

 an utter impossibility for them both to be right. I must confess 

 that I am not physiologist sufficient to prove the doctrine of Mr. 

 Hay ward ; but this I must say, that it appears to be based upon 

 the simple laws of nature, while a practical application of the cutting 

 aivay system has proved itself (at least with me) to have done more 

 harm than good. 



Again, Mr. Hayward observes : " It generally happens, that when 

 a plant grows luxuriantly to leaves, branches, and stalk, it is but 

 little inclined to produce blossoms ; we may therefore justly con- 

 clude that, in such cases, there is a greater supply of food than the 

 leaves are equal to ; and that, although we cannot enlarge their 

 powers, we can relieve their duties by lessening the supply of food, 

 and thus promote fructification." Now, this again I have several 

 times proved to be correct. When a plant (especially among Dahlias) 

 has grown very vigorously, and has indicated no signs of coming 

 into bloom, in order to cut off the superabundant supply of food, I have 

 chopped round the plant with a spade, and, by thus dividing many 

 of the small fibres, the supply of sap has been lessened and the plant 

 has presently produced flower-buds and bloomed beautifully. 



I conclude this paper by hoping, if this should meet the eye of 

 Mr. Hayward, that he will favour the readers of the Cabinet with a 

 few more of his very useful communications ; and, should I ever 

 meet with his little work, " On the Causes of Barrenness and Fruit- 

 fulness of Plants and Trees," I shall certainly become a willing- 

 purchaser. 



Ilavpham, Dec. 13, 1839. 



