62 ROOT AND CROWN. 



the rule that the branches of the root and the 

 branches of the crown shall be equally shortened, 

 so that the forming roots shall be directly under 

 the drip of the forming crown. 



There is also a similar way of carrying off the 

 water to be observed in the Evergreens. Let us 

 look at the common Pine. 1 The branches start 

 nearly at right angles with the trunk, run out 

 horizontally for some distance, and then curve 

 upwards in the form of a bow. The needles near 

 the end of every branch point upwards, while those 

 a little further from the end, where the branch is 

 almost horizontal, are directed obliquely down- 

 wards and outwards. The raindrops which strike 

 the upraised needles run down along them to the 

 bark of the branch, and thence to other needles 

 with their points directed downwards and out- 

 wards. On the ends of these needles great drops 

 are gradually formed, which finally drop off and 

 fall on the upraised needles of a lower branch. 

 Guided in this manner, the rainwater is brought 

 ever lower and lower, and at the same time towards 

 the exterior of the tree. 



So it is with the Larch. The raindrops which 

 fall on the bushy young sprouts collect and come 



1 The common Pine in Germany is the Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris). 



