60 



But, as trees are rarely moved without suf- 

 fering more or less loss or maiming of their 

 roots, it becomes important to understand 

 iiow to repair this injury. 



A tree is a thing of life. It lives and has 

 its being. Its roots constitute its mouths and 

 stomach ; its foliage performs the functions of 

 lungs and perspiratory system. If, on re- 

 moving a tree, you cut away one-half of its 

 mouths, at the same time, of course, destroying 

 an equal portion of its stomach, its powers of 

 perspiration and respiration must also be pro- 

 portionably checked, or its health, or life even, 

 may be destroyed. Hence, when a period of 

 rainy weather immediately succeeds the set- 

 ting of a tree, it is almost sure to live; for the 

 dampness of the atmosphere checks the perspi- 

 ration and respiration of the tree, till its roots 

 in a measure recover what they have suffered 

 from their mutilation and removal. The same 

 thing is also imperfectly accomplished, by 

 watering the top of a tree with a water-pot 

 for several successive nights after being set, or 

 by binding the trunk with moss and straw. 

 A small plant or cutting is put under a bell- 

 glass for this purpose, the confined air check- 

 ing the perspiration equally as well as a hu- 

 mid or cloudy atmosphere. 



