158 



in the hop-gardens, likewise announces 

 the same truth : — trees being only a vege- 

 table of a larger species. 



Seeing then the uses of leaves, and ap- 

 plying the principle to the case of Forest 

 Trees, it is obvious, such are necessary 

 to promote not only the growing, but 

 the towering of the plant; for the latter 

 cannot be effected, except accompanied 

 by a certain degree of strength, which it 

 cannot have, unless some branches be 

 suffered to remain to form a head, pro- 

 duce leaves, attract the sap, &c. as be- 

 fore intimated. 



If such be the purpose which nature 

 intended, principally in the formation of 

 branches, it is obvious, that every suc- 

 ceeding year, the lower tiers, or annual 

 sets, become less and less necessary to 

 the plant ; ultimately they must become 

 useless, and not only so, but a nuisance, 

 which ought to be removed ; for other- 



