112 



OPEN AIK GKAPE CULTUER. 



watery matter ; but the latter will collect in the inte- 

 rior until it forces its way through the bark, and runs 

 down in putrid streams, as happens to the mulbeny- 

 tree when it is- incessantly stripped for silkworms, 

 and as occurs to trees whose leaves are continually 

 destroyed by a noxious atmosphere. Strip the ripen- 

 ing grapes of their green garments, and no color or 

 sweetness will be collected in their berries. Rob the 

 potato of its foliage and you will seek in vain for 

 nourishment in its tubers ; and so of all things else. 

 On the other hand, leave the mulberry, the vine and 

 the potato uninjured, to the genial influence of the 

 sun and the air, and the dews of heaven, and wood is 

 formed in the one case, sugar and color in the other — 

 and flour, the staff of life, in the last, and these pro- 

 ducts will all be in exact proportion to the health and 



abundance of the foliage 



" But although the general rule is to allow as many 

 leaves to remain on a tree as can be kept in health, 

 yet there are circumstances which justify their re- 

 moval, and, indeed, render it necessary. For example, 

 when a tender tree is trained to a wall, a great object 

 with the gardener is to secure ripe wood ; for unless 

 he does this, the frost of the succeeding winter may 

 destroy the branches, or the buds may be so imper- 

 fectly formed as to produce feeble shoots the ensuing 

 season. To attain this object, those leaves must be 



