88 THE USE AND OFFICES 



of the question, have operated more to confuse 

 than benefit the practical gardener or husband- 

 man, and have induced a careless destruction, 

 rather than an effectual protection, of the leaves 

 of plants. 



The leaves, however, will be found to form a 

 most important part in the structure of a plant, 

 and to be destined to perform an essential office 

 in the process of vegetation. 



Miller, in speaking of fruit-trees, says, *' If 

 " the shoots have not a leading bud where it is 

 " cut, it is certain to die down to the next 

 ♦* leading bud ; so that what fruit may be pro- 

 *' duced above that, will come to nothing, there 

 *' being always a necessity of a leading bud to 

 " attract the nourishment ; for it is not suffici- 

 *' ent that they have a leaf bud, as some have 

 *' imagined, since that will attract but a small 

 " quantity of nourishment. The great use of 

 " the leaves being, to perspire away such crude 

 *' juices as are unfit to enter the fruit." 



Again, '* If we consider that the leaves are 

 *' absolutely necessary to cherish the blossom- 

 *' buds, which are always formed at the foot- 

 ** stalks of the leaves, so pulling them off, before 

 *' they have performed the office assigned them 

 ** by nature, is doing great injury to the trees." 



The Rev. Mr. Hales, in his Treatise on Vege- 



