TRANSPLANTING. 195 



is unnecessary, because it would certainly delay the 

 period of their bearing, a circumstance not at all 

 desirable to a market gardener. 



This horror of cutting off leaf-bearing branches is 

 an interdict against all pruning. The doctrine may 

 be regarded by the forester ; but what is the orchardist 

 to do when he wishes to renovate his old trees ? His 

 readiest expedient is decapitation, in order to obtain 

 a new and extended head, either by regrafting or not- 



But what are the practical facts showing that the 

 above ideas of the state of a transplanted tree, and 

 the propriety of pruning it as soon as transplanted, 

 are correct ? Several, we think, may be adduced. A 

 cutting may be aptly compared to a newly transplanted 

 tree ; both are destitute of active fibres ; in fact, both 

 have these necessary organs to form before either can 

 make any progress in growth. In this respect they 

 are like a seed, which, in its development, first ejects 

 its rostel into the ground. Would it assist the root- 

 ing of the cutting of any shrub or tree were the 

 whole length of a shoot taken instead of a part ? and 

 would the same cutting or shoot of a deciduous tree 

 have been more readily rooted while it was furnished 

 with leaves, than after they had fallen ? To both 

 these questions, in respect to deciduous trees, the 

 practical man will probably answer in the negative. 

 Besides, with respect to the transplanted tree, but 

 little assistance being derivable from the enfeebled 

 roots, is it not better to concentrate this limited 

 supply, and direct it to the production of a few new 



