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THE planter's guide. 



striking proof of the fact, that, at this moment, few 

 persons comparatively — and, what is still more surprising, 

 few planters, are aware of the twofold course of the sap 

 in trees, or of the method in which their juices are either 

 elaborated or circulated. These studies, I found, threw 

 great light upon the subject. Appearances for which I 

 had not been able previously to account were now 

 satisfactorily explained ; and means were suggested for 

 obviating difficulties that otherwise seemed insurmount- 

 able. 



It has been already stated that there are four distinct 

 external provisions, termed the protecting properties, 

 which nature gives to trees in open exposures, and which 

 distinguish them from others standing in the interior of 

 woods. The use of these properties is to enable trees to 

 develop their existence vigorously, in spite of the 

 external conditions which are unfavourable to such 

 development. Which of the four properties is really 

 the most important for that purpose it was not easy to 

 determine, as they are all relative and correlative. They 

 act and react in the most curious manner upon one 

 another, each modifying and determining, as has been 

 seen, the existence of all the others. To predicate, then, 

 or affirm certainly, as to their respective usefulness in the 

 art of transplanting, is, properly speaking, more fanciful 

 than real. But, from my own practice, I was disposed to 

 rank them in the following order of pre-eminence : first, 

 thickness and induration of bark ; secondly, stoutness and 

 girth of stem ; thirdly, numerousness of roots and fibres ; 

 and fourthly, extent, balance, and closeness of branches. 

 I found, however, that it might safely be assumed as a 

 rule, that the success of the planter in this art would be 

 in the actual proportion in which his subjects possessed 

 these properties ; and vice versd, that his failure would 



