steuart's planter's guide. 



305 



ring the layer into good dense timber later in the 

 season, when the assimilated fluid or sap is believed 

 to descend. 



Our author states, that the timber of pruned trees 

 must be inferior to that of trees with many side- 

 branches, because the consequent contracting and 

 twisting of the vessels as they pass the junction of 

 the branches and stem, obstruct the descent of the 

 sap, thence the timber is better matured, and in firs 

 has more of resinous deposit. We admit that the 

 resinous deposition is more abundant in knots and in 

 some of the parts adjacent ; but the timber is nat 

 better throughout. Worm-eating may be observed 

 to commence generally in the neighbourhood of 

 knots. Although one part of the wood, in con- 

 sequence of the obstruction of the knot, be more 

 dense and resinous, another part, immediately above 

 or below the knot, where the growths are extend- 

 ed to fill up the vacant space, where the worm- 

 ing commences, is less dense, and of inferior durabi- 

 lity, and corruption begun, extends. The knotted 

 timber, of course, is very inferior in strength and value 

 to the clean. We would refer the longer conti- 

 nued flow of sap from maple and birches, which 

 have many side-branches, in part, to the lower or 



side-branches commencing to vegetate sooner in the 



u 



