166 



MANAGEMENT OF WOODS. 



being acted upon, and decomposed by the digestive 

 powers of the stomach. After being fully prepared 

 by the leaves, the sap again descends, feeding in its 

 way, first, the branches ; secondly, the stem ; and, 

 last of all, the roots. The branches bearing the 

 leaves, then, which last may be called the digestive 

 organs of the tree, are just as necessary to the other 

 parts, as the other parts, not excepting the roots 

 themselves, are to them. It follows, that if the 

 number of branches be so reduced as not to carry a 

 sufficient number of leaves for the elaboration of 

 the sap, part of it will return in an unprepared 

 state, and be of no use ; so that the tree, after a se- 

 vere pruning, will be deprived of a great part of the 

 aliment which formerly it enjoyed. From this it 

 is not to be concluded that pruning is useless, when 

 conducted under proper regulations ; for, by displa- 

 cing a branch that overshadows several others, their 

 leaves will be the better exposed to the air and 

 light, and so become stronger and more able to per- 

 form their office, thus balancing the want of those 

 that perish with the branch lopped off. But if the 

 whole account of the circulation of the sap now 

 given be not a delusion, to remove so many branches 

 as is commonly done in pruning, is injurious in a 

 degree almost beyond calculation. It tends to ren- 



