120 COME INTO THE GARDEN 



dred gallons of water to every pound of dry 

 growth. 



All plants as they grow, establish the equilib- 

 rium between their tops and their roots which 

 this astonishing fact shows to be so important, 

 so that the latter draw up just the right amount 

 of water to supply what the former transpire. 

 And this equilibrium must be maintained — which 

 brings us to the first consideration incident to 

 the work of planting, namely, the cutting back 

 of tops to meet the root loss that is always un- 

 avoidable. It is not always easy to judge just 

 what the latter has been, when stock is received 

 from a nursery; yet careful examination of the 

 roots will usually make it fairly clear — and a 

 little more vigorous pruning at the top than 

 seems absolutely necessary is always wise. 



For instance, if one-quarter of a root system 

 has been injured, one-third of the top should 

 be sacrificed rather than one-fifth; for branch 

 and leaf will make haste to put forth and catch 

 up with the roots that overbalance them, where- 

 as an insufficient root system, over-drained by 

 too much top, cannot be made up so quickly 

 and will cause the whole plant to languish and 

 weaken, just as an underfed person or animal 

 weakens, making it an especially susceptible 

 subject for disease to attack. 



