70 



ON THE MANAGEMENT 



tion, cut them to any convenient length, and put 

 them into pretty large pots filled with light sandy 

 earth. Let the bottom of each shoot be cut with 

 a sharp knife, perfectly smooth, as they will then 



Now the outside of the extending part of the dead branch or 

 imaginary pin being less mature than the heart or centre, by 

 being exposed to the weather, it will, of course, decay first ; 

 and I have constantly observed it generally falls off in annual 

 scales. As these scales shell off, the increasing new bark swells 

 round the base of the stump, and occupies the space till it 

 meets and unites in the centre. — As the new bark covers a 

 considerable part of the dead wood, for, as has been observed, 

 the lower part of the branch, inclosed in the tree, dies also to 

 a considerable depth, for the decay will follow the grain of the 

 wood. The important subject to be discussed is, whether it 

 may not contribute either to the general decay in the bole of 

 the tree, or cause a material blemish in the wood, when it 

 comes to be converted into use. Now the remaining part of 

 the stump being protected from the weather, and excluded 

 from the air by the surrounding live wood, it may be consi- 

 dered, in a great measure, as similar to the pith of the tree, but 

 with this difference, as having more body, and being of a firmer 

 texture, consequently its decrease will not be so rapid ; how- 

 ever, length of time will reduce it to a, vegetable mould. This 

 is evident, as these dead stumps are never found entire in the 

 bodies of large, sound, unshaken trees, when converted into 

 use. However, this vegetable mould being devoid either of 

 sand or earthy particles, retains but little body in this state ; 

 and being compressed by the internal grotvth, as admitted above, 

 of the surrounding live wood, it will at the last terminate in 

 nothing more than a small black knot. I must beg leave to 

 observe, that the dead branches of trees, of the resinous kind, 

 do not come under the above description, for the dead branches 

 of trees, of this class, are preserved by a turpentine matter 

 quite entire, and in their original magnitude. Tliis is evinced 



