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THE planter's GUIDE. 



At this period also the tap-root, in the same way, loses 

 its pre-eminence, and begins to disappear among the 

 other roots. It loses likewise its power of going down- 

 wards, and is no longer distinguished among the latter. 

 Thus we may perceive how remarkable a resemblance 

 the roots and branches of trees bear to each other, not 

 only in respect io form, but also in respect to the period 

 of their duration — a fact which has not hitherto been 

 observed by phytologists. 



As to the tap-root, it appears that a good deal of ex- 

 aggeration has prevailed among late writers respecting 

 its importance to trees, which has been affirmed to be 

 quite paramount. Hence the doctrine that, if it be cut 

 off by transplantation, or other means, the tree has no 

 longer the power either of renewing or reproducing it, or 

 even of growing to timber of any magnitude. This 

 opinion, however, is founded in error, and cannot be sup- 

 ported by experience. From the development of woody 

 plants, we are warranted in believing that, in infancy, 

 the tap-root is indispensable to their vigorous growth. 

 But the fact that, in trees of mature age, when cut down, 

 the tap-root is no longer distinguishable from the other 

 roots, sufficiently shows that the importance which it 

 once possessed does not continue to a late period of their 

 age. 



From my own experience I am enabled to adduce a 

 direct confirmation of the analogy above mentioned. In 

 sundry instances, when I have had occasion for the second 

 time to remove a tree, the power of renovation appeared 

 conspicuous in the fresh set of tap-roots that was generated. 

 In the same way, respecting the top, on heading down a 

 spiral tree, in order to communicate to it the spreading 

 character, it was found that numerous growths were sent 

 out instead of the leading shoot, which had been dis- 



