ESSEX SOCIETY. 67 



inclined to spread itself out like a creeping vine upon the earth, 

 than to lift itself toward the higher regions. Few whose minds 

 have never been instructed on the subject, would be forward to 

 believe that, from such beginnings, such great results were likely 

 to follow ; that this fragile plant should grow to be the giant 

 of the wood ! Such, however, are the mighty workings of those 

 innate principles which are called the laws of the material 

 world. In cultivation, it becomes of practical importance 

 whether this apparently feeble plant should be suffered to re- 

 main till it gathers strength to raise itself upward, or, after it 

 has spread out its roots to a considerable extent, and become 

 thereby able to collect a considerable nourishment, it may not 

 be wiser to cut it down near the earth, under the expectation, 

 justified by many experiments, that it would send out a sprout 

 which, under these circumstances, would rise up straight, and 

 soon attain a greater length even, than the original stock that 

 had been taken away. The principal reason urged by those 

 who disapprove of this cutting down, is the alleged fact that 

 sprouts will never or rarely attain the size to which the original 

 stock would acquire, nor would they be so compact, strong or 

 enduring. When the sprouts spring from the stumps or roots of 

 large trees, there can, I apprehend, be little doubt of the validity 

 of this objection, so that if timber is the mark looked forward 

 to, it probably must be unwise to depend on a growth from 

 the bottom of large trees. If fuel for the fire is the result 

 sought, the objection has less weight, if we feel any regard 

 should be paid to it. It is very likely, indeed, in most instan- 

 ces, from the great rapidity of growth, that more would be 

 gained from the increase in bulk, than lost in the want of solidity. 

 In the present case, however, if the cutting process be adopted, 

 the tree is so small, and bears so small a proportion to the size of 

 a fully developed tree, I must think the objection has but little 

 force, were it true, as this supposes it to be, that the first shoot- 

 ing out of the tree did actually, as time advances, rise up from 

 its recumbent state and stretch its head heavenward. My own 

 belief is, however, that this is seldom the case. From what 

 observation I have been able to make, I am convinced that the 

 top first thrown out, does almost universally die either before or 



