58 A TREATISE OF 



worfe ; in fhort, the roots of all trees are 

 much hurt by weeds, for they exclude the 

 fun's rays, which would otherwife warm 

 the foil, and much encourage the growth 

 of the fibres, and confequently that of the 

 trees. 



It is not much to be regarded from 

 what kind of foil you take your trees, 

 provided they have the following marks 

 of health, viz. If their (hoots at the ex- 

 tremities be very full of buds, and are 

 plump, without any appearance of miWew 

 or blight, and all their other parts free 

 from canker, gum and mofs j for all thefe 

 are fymptoms of a defeft in the roots ; and 

 tho' planting them in proper foils will re- 

 move it in time, yet it will not be prudent 

 to chufe fuch trees, for there muft (as I 

 have faid before) be time and proper ma- 

 nagement applied in order to recover them 

 from their ill ftate. Befides, there is a year 

 or more loft with regard to their bearing, 

 than if they are at firft free from fuch de- 

 fect and imperfe6tion. 



CHAP. 



