4 



PR O DUCTI ON 



Sect. XV. 2.3 



It is probable, that if oaks were debarked in the fummer 



fewer leaf-buds would 



f the latter 'itiu ft be advanced too fii 



annidft the flower-buds ; becaufe many- 



hen th 



debarked 



m 



the 



to be 



I 



ted into flower-buds by preventing th 



produflion of their caudexes, or by ioipeding the afcent of th 



nu- 



fap-juice ; which in thefe trees is lodged principally I fuppofe 



the alburn 



as fpoken of in Sed. IX. 2. 8. On the fame 



\ 



count, when much fap-juice is taken in the vernal months from the 

 birch or maple for the purpofes of making wine in this country, or 

 fugar in America, I am informed, that no great difference occurs in 

 the refpedive numbers of flowef-buds or leaf-buds, which then 

 fucceed ; but that the general luxuriance of the tree is diminifhed ; 

 which evinces, that for the defign of generating more flower-buds 



and fewer leaf-buds by partial d 

 about Mid fummer. 



fhould be performed 



The cylindrical or femicylindrical decortication of a large root of a 

 tree, as well as of a branch, is faid to anfwer the purpofe of increaf- 

 ing the produdion of fruit-buds by leflTening the number of leaf- 

 •buds ; but may be fubjed to two inconveniences ; firft, that the 

 wounded root being near the furface of the ground may be liable to 

 rot like the bottoms of hedge-ftakes ; or like timber, which is kept 

 in moift cellars ; or the pofts of wooden bridges, which are alter- 

 nately expofed to water and to air. A fecond inconvenience may oc- 

 ,cur from terreftrial infers having accefs to the alburnum of the root, 

 which is often full of fweet fap-juic€ to invite them, an^d is other- 

 wife generally defended by an acrid rind. 



The parts of a tree immediately below a decorticated or a ftran^-u- 



lated branch or root, will generally become viviparous, and will 

 thence be faid to be increafed in vigour ; that is, it will produce 

 .new leaf-buds, and thofe of a luxuriant appearance; becaufe the in- 

 jury of the bark of the branch or root will prevent the parts above 

 from receiving fo much of the nutritive fap-juice, as in their found 



w 



ftate; 



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