210 On the Management of Peach Trees. 



relative and correlative influence, between the roots and leaves 

 of plantS; — that one part exerts an agency over the other, 

 and that that part is again reciprocally acted upon. Hence, 

 it must be apparent that every shoot that is taken from a 

 tree, while the leaves are in a healthy green state, is just tak- 

 ing tlie most effectual means of checking the energies of the 

 root ; but if the root, at that time, be in a state of powerful 

 absorption, a reaction must necessarily follow. The descend- 

 ing fluids will mingle with the excess that is absorbed by the 

 roots, and will ramify, v/ith redoubled energy, through the 

 branches, and a second growth, stronger than the first, is the 

 consequence. If the absorptive power of the root be very weak, 

 the fruit will drop off, and the tree will receive a check, from 

 which it will not recover during the season. It is doubtful 

 whether the gross feeding roots of luxuriant trees, thus 

 checked, do not gain more strength by the reaction, than if 

 the shoots had remained on until the leaves had lost their 

 power of elaboration. Hence, I argue, that it is very ques- 

 tionable, whether, after making due allowance for the tempo- 

 rary cessation of reciprocal action, by a periodical system of 

 severe summer-pruning, there is not a greater quantity of 

 highly refined juices, assimilated in the branches for the depo- 

 sition of cambium, the formation of buds, and the produc- 

 tion of fruit, by allowing the sap-elaborating processes to go 

 on without any violent interruption, until the assimilative 

 power of the leaves had ceased. This, at all events, I have 

 proved to my own satisfaction, and to others besides. Hence, 

 I conclude, that the absurd system of letting peach trees grow 

 on until midsummer, and then all at once dismantling them 

 wholesale of half their foliage, is founded upon theoretical and 

 practical ignorance, although it is of common occurrence, and 

 even recommended by some high authorities. I^et any per- 

 son just study its effect upon the trees, after the operation, 

 and they will need no further arguments to convince them of 

 its injurious consequences. But then the light and air must 

 get to the fruit, some will say. Very true. And why let 

 them obstruct the light and air at all 1 What is to prevent 

 the sun, and light, and air, from penetrating into the centre of 

 the tree, from the beginning of spring ? Nothing at all, ex- 

 cept to give double the work at midsummer. Midsummer 



