218 



the- wood, just below this part, it was 

 found the grain laid almost in an hori- 

 zontal position, instead of perpendicular ; 

 consequently, very little sap could find 

 its way to the head of such a tree, as, 

 notwithstanding the root might furnish a 

 moderate quantity, most of it would es- 

 cape out of the stem. Every thing here 

 shews that nature's efforts had got an im- 

 proper bias ; and that it was impossible 

 any thing short of human means could 

 have set them right. 



When more unnatural branches ap- 

 pear, after the first set are displaced, they 

 must be discarded also ; and when such 

 means do not prove effectual, the head of 

 the tree should be thinned, by taking off 

 part of the most extended branches, 

 where they fork. In every case, the 

 branches dead, or nearly so, must be 

 taken oflf' to the quick. 



When dead tops appear on trees which 



