ABOUT ruriTs, flowuiis axd faumixg. 251 



for use, as fust as it is sent up to it from the root through 

 the interior sap-j)assages. In the leaf, the sap gives off and 

 receives, certain properties ; and "when thus ehxborated, it 

 is chai-god Avilh all those elements required for the foi*ma- 

 tion and sustentation of every part of vegetable fiibric. 

 Descending, it gives out its various qualities, till it reaches 

 the root; and whatever is left then passes out into the soil. 



Every man will perceive that if a tree is pruned in spring 

 before it has a leaf out, there is no sap provided to repair 

 the wound. A slight granulation may take i)lace, in certain 

 circumstances, and in some kinds of plants, from the ele- 

 ments with which the tree Avas stored during the former 

 season ; but, in point of fact, a cut usually remains Avithont 

 change until the progress of spring puts the whole vege- 

 table economy into action. 



In yoimg and vigorous trees, this process may not seem to 

 occasion any injury. But trees growing feeble by age will 

 soon manifest the result of this injudicious practice, by 

 blackened stumps, by cankered sores, and by decay. 



If one must begin to do something that looks like spring- 

 work, let him go at a more efficient train of operations. 

 With a good spade invert the sod for several feet from the 

 body of the tree. With a good scraper remove all dead 

 bark. Dilute (old) soft soap Avith urine ; take a stiff shoe- 

 brush, and go to scouring the trunk and main branches. 

 This Avill be labor to some purpose ; and before you have 

 gone through a large orchard faithfully, your zeal for spring- 

 work will have become so far tempered wath knowledge, 

 that you Avill be willing to let pruning alone till after corn- 

 planting. 



Two exceptions or precautions should be mentioned. 



1. In the use of the wash ; ncAv soap is more caustic than 

 old ; and the sediments of a soap barrel much more so tLnn 

 the mass of soap. Sometimes trees have been injured by 

 applying a caustic alkali in too great strength. There is 

 little danger of this when a tree is rough and covered with 



