FRUIT-TREES. 107 



fome of the fmallefl fibres become dry 

 and ufelefs, by being expofed to the air in 

 their removal ; therefore this branch is 

 ihortened, and the lower buds deftroyed, 

 with a defign of lefiening the number of 

 thofe parts that receive the fap from the 

 roots in proportion as near as may be 

 judged to the parts of the roots loft by re- 

 moval ; for as all the roots colle6l from 

 the earth a quantity of juices only fufScient 

 for the due nourifliment of the whole tree, 

 fo a part of them can colie6l only a quan- 

 tity fufficient for a part of it ; now if the 

 whole branch be left on with all its buds, 

 the remaining roots cannot fupply its veiTels, 

 and keep them properly full to its extre» 

 mity, from whence the death of part of 

 the branch enfues. As foon as a part ^ of 

 it becomes dry and dead, the mortification 

 defcends very faft to the deftruftion of the 

 branch it begins in, and fometimes of thq 

 whole tree. 



CHAP. 



