266 



Should that unfortunately be permitted, the fibres will be- 

 come discoloured, or altogether black, and by immediately 

 decaying, after being replanted, soon occasion a correspond- 

 ing decay in the spray and twigs of the branches. As the 

 sap, therefore, is scantily absorbed and sent vipw^ards, an 

 equally scanty supply of the proper juice is sent down, in 

 order to give expansion to the roots ; and although the tree 

 carry a tolerable leaf, and produce the general effect contem- 

 plated in its removal, still the efforts which it makes to sup- 

 ply the parts that have been lost, retard ita progress, and a 

 year or two may elapse, ere the due complement be made up, 

 and the tree consequently shoot forth with vigovu'. It is to 

 be feared, that this cause of backwardness oftener occurs 

 than the best planters are aware of ; but it never appears so 

 fully displayed to the view, as in some singular case, when 

 the tree happens again to be taken up, after the first or 

 second season. 



The third cause that may be assigned, is late frost, in the 

 spring of the first year, or, it may be, early frost, in the 

 autumn of the foregoing season. Supposing that trees have 

 the best roots and branches, and that they have been trans- 

 ferred without accident or injury, premature frost is never- 

 theless an enemy to their success, which no foresight can 

 prevent. In these northern latitudes we have, properly 

 speaking, but three divisions of the year, summer, winter, 

 and autumn. The fourth division, namely spring, although 

 it figures in the calendar, does not always favour us with its 

 actual presence. Sharp frosts in May, and sometimes in 

 October, are not altogether unknown in the best English 

 climates ; but they are mild visitants there, to what they 

 sometimes prove in Scotland. 



If the reader have fully apprehended the detail, which 

 has been given above (especially in Section IV.,) respecting 

 roots and branches, he will perceive, that those two main 

 conservative organs being (as the schoolmen say) " relative 



