IN TREES. 323 



planting is delayed till the rootlets are fully formed, 

 the tree is in as much jeopardy as if it were com- 

 pletely in leaf, or even in more. The action of the 

 rootlets ceases sooner than that of the leaves, so 

 that they pass into the state of winter repose at an 

 earlier period of the autumn. 



During the first winter after it issues from the 

 acorn, the oak of the first year, with the loss only 

 of its leaves which have been cast off, remains 

 inactive till the return of the season. When that 

 comes round, the elaboration of the second oak is 

 begun. 



The growth of that oak, though still an interest- 

 ing operation, is not quite so wonderful as the 

 first, for there is a basis of both wood and bark 

 for the second one ; and the vegetable action is 

 expanded over the whole surface where they come 

 in contact ; whereas, the first year, the wood and 

 bark were not begun, and the vegetable action is 

 confined to a mere point. Still the exciting of the 

 former oak, so that it shall produce the new one, is 

 a very wonderful matter ; nor is it easy to under- 

 stand how, or possible to tell why, it takes place. 

 The cause is beyond human scrutiny, but the mode 

 is well worthy of observation. 



When the return of the genial season has brought 

 the tree to a certain degree of heat, it begins to act ; 

 and the longer that the tree stands in the autumn 

 before its ripening of wood is completed, and the 

 leaves are shaken off, the longer must the spring 

 in general advance before the part of the tree ab&ve 

 ground comes into action. There are exceptions fco 

 that, but they are characters only of peculiar species. 



The underground action begins first, and root- 

 lets, which have the same period of action as the 

 7 



