132 



and ruin is proclaimed by dead tops.* 

 the badness of the soil is re-echoed from 

 all quarters, and the goodness of manage- 

 ment never once suspected. When we 

 come to treat of woods, it may probably 

 be made appear, there are faults on both 

 sides. 



Short stems, and large spreading heads. 

 thouo;h considered as beauties in single 

 trees, are undoubtedly considerable de- 

 fects where the article is grown for 

 profit. Under the general head, Knot- 

 tiness, (see p. 58), the advantages of a 

 long stem have been noted ; the dis- 

 advantage of a short one follows of 

 course. 



The first obvious remark here, is the 

 disparity in value between the diffe- 

 rent parts of a tree, the stem and its 

 head. It has been noted, (p. 54), that a 

 moderate quantity of leaves and small 

 wood, is necessary to every tree, but cer- 



