GROWING GOLD. 



101 



ncre of land, it perhaps may be supposed 

 that no attention has been given to the 

 doctrine of the use of leaves to the vegetable 

 kingdom; the question has been considered, 

 as far as it applies to the growth of timber. 

 Where trees of only one kind are planted, 

 each sends out an equal portion of branches 

 and leaves, according to the space each tree 

 has, and the stem grows at a less rate in 

 proportion to the number of branches and 

 leaves. The sap ascends the stem of a tree, 

 and circulates to the extremity of the branches, 

 to cause the leaves to grow, therefore it does 

 not require the effect of the atmosphere upon 

 the leaves to cause the fluids to ascend ; this 

 shows there is reason to conclude that a very 

 large number of leaves is less necessary to 

 the existence of trees than is maintained by 

 some wTiters ; they no doubt are necessary 

 to keep the trees in health, and they will not 

 exist without them. All that is contended 

 for, is, that when a tree has many branches, 

 consequently a superabundance of leaves, 

 its sap is exhausted in their production, 



