LEAVES MAY BE REMOVED. 73 



the foKage to the tender and delicate flowers ■which are to spring up on 

 the return of warm weather. Why mutilate forest-trees by barha- 

 rous summer pruning ? Every leaf that is then removed would have 

 added something to the quantity and solidity of the timber, had it been 

 spared ; and although the quantity of timber formed by the separate 

 action of each particular leaf may be, and doubtless is, extremely small, 

 yet it must be remembered, that, in pruning, millions of leaves are 

 removed, and that it is by miUions of minute quantities that a forest is 

 constructed. 



But although the general rule is to allow as many leaves to remain on 

 a tree as can be kept ia health, yet there are circumstances which justify 

 their removal, and., indeed, render it necessary. For example, when a 

 tender tree is trained to a wall, a great object with the gardener is to 

 secure ripe wood ; for unless he does this, the frost of the succeeding 

 winter may destroy the branches, or the buds may be so imperfectly 

 formed as to produce feeble shoots the ensuing season. To attain this 

 object, those leaves must be removed which prevent the sun from 

 striking upon the branches to be ripened, the effect of this being to 

 stop the rapid growth of the branches and to consolidate their tissue, in 

 consequence, partly, of the excessive perspiration, and partly of the 

 rapid digestion of the sap, which is thus induced; for the rate ofdiges-' 

 Hon and perspiration in a healthy plant is in proportion to the quantity 

 of light and heat to which it is exposed. Hence the removal of those 

 shoots which in summer overshadow that wood of the Peach-tree which 

 is intended to be preserved another year, is useful ; there can be no 

 doubt, however, that as few shoots as possible should be thus removed. 

 Another case in which the removal of leaves is justifiable occurs in the 

 Vine. In this plant the fruit is borne near the base of lateral shoots, 

 which will, if unchecked, go on lengthening and producing leaves to a 

 considerable distance. Now all the food of such a lateral shoot is 

 obtained from the main branch, which, however, is only capable of 

 famishing a certain quantity. If the lateral shoot is allowed to grow 

 unchecked, it will consume its portion of food in the production of 

 many leaves and some Ghrapes ; and the more there is of the former, the 

 less wiU be the weight of the latter. But if the shoot is stopped after 

 having formed two leaves, all that quantity of food which would have 

 been consiuned in the production of other leaves is applied to the 

 increase of size in the Grapes and the two leaves that are left ; while, 

 on the other hand, the general crop of leaves on the Vine will be amply 

 sufflbient to prepare those secretions which are to give flavour, colour, 

 and sweetness to the Grapes. This' will, perhaps, be better explained 

 by the annexed diagram. Let the line a g represent a lateral Vine- 

 branch, bearing fruit at B, and leaves at c, d, e,f. Suppose six ounces 

 of sap are destined to support this lateral a g, during the summer ; 

 i\ is evident that, if equally distributed, each leaf and branch will 



