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- 



