a7id of Mural Improvement generally^, during 1838. 547 



such trees or shrubs ; and, when it is considered that wounding 

 branches, by cutting off a portion of them, has at all times a 

 tendency to dry and kill back some part of the branch which 

 remains, it follows, that even cutting in trees and shrubs that 

 have had their leaves and branches injured, immediately after the 

 injury, or even at any period during the dormant season, must be 

 hurtful. The correctness of these theoretical views has been 

 proved in many places, where gardeners, in order to remove the 

 unsightly appearance of blackened foliage, have cut the trees 

 down in February or March, before any activity could take place 

 in the sap, and, consequently, before it could be known how far 

 the branches would revivify by the effect of temperature. From 

 this rash practice, many trees and shrubs have been altogether 

 lost, that would have otherwise recovered ; though it is allowed, 

 that some which had been so treated have sent up shoots from the 

 stool or root. On the other hand, those who neither cut in, nor 

 cut down, the woody plants which were injured, till July, August, 

 or even September, saved most of them, and particularly those 

 planted in dry soil, against walls. * 



* Whilst such caution in heading down is here recommended, in order that 

 rare and valuable species, or specimens remarkable for their size, may be 

 preserved, yet, in the case of many common evergreens, not only cutting down, 

 but entirely rooting up, and replacing with fresh plants, may be the most 

 proper mode to adopt. Although some entirely evergreen species will rush 

 up with great vigour, after being cut down under ordinary circumstances, 

 when the leaves, and consequently the stems, are in a fresh and sound state ; 

 yet, it is evident that, in very many instances, such vigorous growth has not 

 resulted after the severe frost of last January, neither when the plants were 

 cut down, nor when they were allowed to break without being cut down. 

 In fact, the growths, in many cases, will have been observed to be the reverse 

 of vigorous. This is, most probably, to be accounted for by the circumstance 

 of the roots losing their energy, or having their functions impaired, in fgfnse- 

 quence of the privation of the usual supply from the leaves, which the ever- 

 greens of mild climates are in the habii of constantly receiving, in a greater 

 or less degree ; for, although at certain seasons the interchange of matter 

 between the roots and leaves of evergreens may be extremely limited, still 

 there can be no doubt that the communication is beneficial ; and, consequently, 

 that a suspension for so protracted a period as that between the middle of 

 January, when the tops were destroyed, and midsummer, when some only 

 commenced to push, and others had only made a few shoots, must be injurious. 

 The roots, although not directly affected by the immediate contact of frost, 

 appear to have lost their energy to a very great extent ; and the proportion- 

 ably small extent of foliage brought into action in the latter part, as it may 

 only be termed, of the present season, will afford but a scanty elaboration, 

 compared with the great extent of old roots requiring a supply. The latter 

 must, therefore, continue, it is to be feared, in a lingering state. 



Temperature, with regard to vegetation, being in a great measure relative, 

 it becomes necessary, in tracing the effects of the extreme depression which 

 occurred in the early part of the season, to advert to the temperature which 

 was previously experienced ; for not only the extreme, but also the vicissitude, 

 has, doubtless, contributed to the disastrous consequences, with regard to the 

 tender, half-hardy, and even such vegetable subjects as, under ordinary degrees 



N N 2 



