The Story -Book of the Fields 



descending sap is prepared and the pump 

 which attracts and draws up the sap from the 

 roots, is the prime cause of a strong growth, 

 the weak portion, with its numerous shoots 

 lengthening into leafy growths, will grow, while 

 the strong part with its few shoots is enfeebled. 

 Thus the two processes tend to the same 

 result, the restoration of the desired equality. 



The herbaceous extremity of the young 

 branches on the over-strong side is cut through 

 with the fingers and thumb nail. This opera- 

 tion is called nipping. The sap that would 

 have been expended in lengthening these 

 branches is diverted from its course and turns 

 to the weaker growths, which it animates and 

 revives. If the weaker side needs nipping to 

 arrest any growth that would interfere with 

 its symmetry, this is put off as late as possible : 

 on the strong side it is effected at an early 

 date. Thus the sap diverted from the strong 

 side to the sickly one has a whole season to 

 restore equality. 



Instead of cutting with the thumb nail and 

 nipping the young shoots, they may be wholly 

 removed while still herbaceous. This removal 

 is effected at an early date on the strong side, 

 only leaving those shoots which are indis- 

 pensable ; but if required on the weaker side 



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