316 Landscape Gardening 



tree, as the roots; and indeed the two act so reciprocally 

 with each other, that any considerable injury to the one 

 always affects the other. "The functions of respiration, 

 perspiration, and digestion," says Professor Lindley, "which 

 are the particular offices of leaves, are essential to the health 

 of a plant; its healthiness being in proportion to the degree 

 in which these functions are duly performed. The leaf is 

 in reality a natural contrivance for exposing a large surface 

 to the influence of external agents, by whose assistance the 

 crude sap contained in the stem is altered, and rendered 

 suitable to the particular wants of the species, and for 

 returning into the general circulation, the fluids in their 

 matured condition. In a word, the leaf of a plant is its 

 lungs and stomach traversed by a system of veins." * All 

 the pruning, therefore, that is necessary, when a tree is 

 properly transplanted, will be comprised in paring smooth 

 all bruises or accidental injuries, received by the roots or 

 branches during the operation, or the removal of a few that 

 may interfere with elegance of form in the head. 



Next in importance to the requisite care in performing the 

 operation of transplanting, is the proper choice of individual 

 trees to be transplanted. In making selections for removal 

 among our fine forest trees, it should never be forgotten that 

 there are two distinct kinds of subjects, even of the same 

 species of every tree, viz. those that grow among and are sur- 

 rounded by other trees or woods, and those which grow alone, 

 in free open exposures, where they are acted upon by the 

 winds, storms, and sunshine, at all times and seasons. The 

 former class it will always be exceedingly difficult to trans- 

 plant successfully even with the greatest care, while the 

 latter may always be removed with comparatively little 

 risk of failure. 



Any one who is at all familiar with the growth of trees in 

 woods or groves somewhat dense, is also aware of the great 

 difference in the external appearance between such trees 

 and those which stand singly in open spaces. In thick 

 woods, trees are found to have tall, slender trunks, with 

 * Lindley, " Theory of Horticulture." 



