724; Retrospective Criticism. 



kinds are figured and described in English Botany as distinct species, 

 under the names of J?6bur and sessiliflora, without any intimation of their 

 being only varieties. The timber of Q. sessiliflora is considered to be infe- 

 rior to that of Q. i26bur : I agree with you that it perhaps has not " been 

 clearly proved that the timber of the one is naturally, and without reference 

 to soil and situation, better than the other ; " but I think it probable that 

 the timber of Q. sessiliflora is inferior, merely because the tree is of quicker 

 growth. Yours, &c. — W. T. Bree. Sept., 1830. 



On turning to Smith's English Flora (vol. iv. p. 148.) we find Q. R6- 

 bur and sessiliflora are made species, and that pedunculata is considered 

 as a synonyme of Q. i?6bur, and not sessiliflora as we have erroneously 

 asserted. — Cond. 



The Functions of Leaves. — Sir, Your correspondent N. H. (p. 414.), 

 in his remarks on Stewart's Planter'' s Guide, says, " Should it be required 

 to take any off" the branches, I always defer it till the following season : 

 I have a great respect for Mr. Gorrie, but I cannot agree with him in 

 cutting any branches off fresh planted trees. I have found cuttings without 

 a leaf removed strike much better than those which were stripped. The 

 last three years I have particularly remarked this in striking Eccremocarpus 

 scaber : those cuttings struck best that had a leaf or a pair remaining at the 

 very joint at which they were cut off, and, in fact, formed plants in nearly 

 half the time that those did which had them removed." And in a marginal 

 note he adds : — " This is proved by every-day experience : every man must 

 be aware that roots make branches, and branches make roots ; else how 

 could a cutting strike root, or part of a root form a plant ? " Now, had 

 Mr. N. H. been pleased to favour us with his full name, it is likely our 

 respect would have been mutual : but as I can give no particular preference 

 to the N and the H over any other letters in the alphabet, my respect for 

 the anonymous writer must be formed entirely by the opinion I entertain of 

 the paper under consideration; which, bating a few puerilities, or, perhaps, 

 agronomisms, is such as would do no discredit to his name, be that wnat 

 it may. I can only agree with N. H., about deferring cutting off branches 

 till the " following season," on the principle of " better late thrive than 

 never do well." If it " be required to take any off," I should humbly 

 suppose, the sooner that is done the better. Leaves and roots may, with- 

 out any impropriety, be called conservative organs ; but their functions are 

 widely different, and mutually dependent on the operations of each other. 

 If the roots, by fracture or lack of moisture, cease to perform their office, 

 the leaves, in place of producing (or, as our author would have it, " of 

 the branches making") roots, soon flag, and ultimately wither and fall 

 off; and hasten, at the same time, the shrivelling of that bark and twig, 

 which, had the root performed its office, they would have contributed to 

 clothe with a fresh layer of living wood. It will be readily allowed that 

 roots imbibe moisture from the soil, and that leaves attract and elabo- 

 rate the sap thus supplied : if this be conceded, it will follow that a proper 

 or natural balance between root and branch is most conducive to the 

 health of the tree or plant. In the act of transplanting some roots will 

 necessarily suffer, and in proportion, I contend, branches should be removed 

 instanter. That proportion will be exceedingly small where the operation 

 of transplanting is performed with due care, and amputations producing 

 large wounds, difficult to heal while the tree is suffering from the removal, 

 will be avoided : but, supposing that the transplanted tree has more foliage 

 than root feeders, will not those supernumerary leaves in discharging 

 their natural functions draw too liberally on the sap of the tree, and a 

 small yellow leaf, which soon ceases to attract or elaborate sap, with a con- 

 striction of bark, be the consequence ? Whereas, if root and branch are 

 fairly proportioned, by art or otherwise, a greater individual and general 

 breadth of healthy foliage is preserved, and the operation of transplanting 



