267 



and correlative," continually act and react ; hence, they re- 

 ciprocally nourish and decay, and are reciprocally stationary 

 or progressive. Therefore it must happen, that if, during 

 April and May, a keen frost supervene, when the sap first 

 rises (and the How must always be more or less imperfect, 

 in the season of removal,) the topshoots of the former year 

 will inevitably be cut dow n, and the roots must suffer pro- 

 portionally in consequence. In the same way, if they be 

 cut down in October, they will not revive in May or April. 

 In either case, the activity of vegetation being checked in 

 the outset, and in both branches and roots, it will require 

 more than a single year, ere the tree can regain its healthful 

 action. 



The fourth cause, which may be stated, is late planting 

 in the spring, which always operates as a great discourage- 

 ment to trees, and kills many. By planting early, that is, 

 soon after the autumn, or at least not later than February 

 and March, all trees (oaks and evergreens excepted) are 

 surprisingly benefited. By means of the moisture, with 

 which the earth is constantly saturated at this season, a 

 gradual consolidation of the mould round the roots and 

 fibres takes place, far superior to any that can be brought 

 about by artificial pressure. But the state of the atmosphere 

 after March being comparatively dry, no equal consolidation 

 is attainable, and the roots, if once injured hy drought, 

 suffer so severely, as not to recover the injury for some years, 

 and often they never recover it. 



The fifth cause is akin to this, and acts prejudicially in 

 the same manner, during the first year, namely, the neglect 

 of duly covering and watering the roots, before the summer 

 drought sets in. In situations where " shows," or the refuse 

 of a Flaxmill cannot be obtained, moss {Scottice fog,) which 

 is frequently employed by florists, is the best substitute, as 

 already mentioned. 



It is remarkable, that these five probable causes of back- 



