GROWING GOLD. 



97 



From the centre of this shoot, in the 

 following year, another springs forth, and 

 which, if equally sheltered, grows like the 

 preceding one. The formation of a shoot 

 appears to be a continued lengthening, incre- 

 ment, or unfolding from the top of it. They 

 will produce a few branches below the joint, 

 but the shoot will ascend in the same manner 

 as the former one, covered also with leaves ; 

 but if these shoots are injured, they produce 

 branches below the part affected, and the 

 succeeding growth of the principal shoot or 

 stem is proportionably less ; sometimes only 

 one is thrown out, but frequently more, so 

 that in reality it has several leading shoots 

 instead of one. As the leading shoot of one 

 year is the stem of future years, it follows that 

 the height and size of the stem of every tree 

 depend on these shoots ; it is therefore essen- 

 tial to arrange that they may be able to grow 

 to their full extent and be perfectly matured. 



According to Du Hamel, Dr. Hope, Sir 

 J. E. Smith, and others, the increase of the 



H 



