10 STRUCTURE OF VESSELS. n 



liable to be generated between them, or-^feey^ are 

 subject to be torn down by the wind ; and should 

 they ultimately come to be removed, being then of 

 considerable size, and the section from their perpen- 

 dicular position being partly horizontal, as the sides 

 of the wound swell up, the rain lodges in the centre, 

 and generates rot. These nearly perpendicular 

 branches generally originate from improper pruning, 

 springing out where a large branch has been cut away. 



Lop off all branches, which, by taking an irregu- 

 lar direction, incline to rub upon the more regular ; 

 also remove all splintered, twisted, and diseased 

 branches. 



Do not cut away any of the lower branches (feed- 

 ers) till they become sickly or dead. By pruning 

 these prematm*ely, you destroy the fine balance of 

 nature, and throw too much vigour into the top, 

 which in consequence puts forth a number of leaders. 

 You also diminish the growth of the tree by the loss 

 of healthy feeders ; the timber of the tree increas- 

 ing in proportion to the quantity of healthy branches 

 and foliage (the foliage being the stomach and limgs 



the tree. We have remedied this by a little attention in assist- 

 ing the rising of the bark with the knife. Nature must not be 

 charged with the malformation of these varieties ; at least, had 

 she formed them, as soon as she saw her error she would have 

 blotted out her work, 



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