OF NORFOLK. 97 



their principal roots different ways, draw fufficient 

 nourifhnient for a permanent fupport of their 

 union. 



I mall clofe my obfervations upon this intereft- 

 ing fubjecl:, with a word of advice, by way of 

 guarding againft a pernicious practice, which, 

 though hitherto unknown in this county, has late- 

 ly got fome footing in it — I mean the infamous 

 cuftom that prevails, in fome counties, of pruning 

 up trees, by diverting them of their lower or lateral 

 branches. When a plant is very young, it is 

 fometimes allowable, to a certain diftance, but 

 mould always be done with great caution ; but 

 when trees have begun to form themfelves, it is a 

 fort of murder — it Hops the growth, and produces 

 extreme deformity; for the fap, in the fpring of the 

 r, being checked in its natural diffufion into 

 the number of branches, into which it ufed to flow, 

 becomes diftorted 



" As knots, by the conflux of meeting fap, 

 " Infett the found pine, and divert his grain, 

 " Tortive and errant, from his courfe of growth. 



" Shakespeare." 



N NOTES. 



