THE planter's GUIDE. 



97 



side-branches, distributed along the stem ; and the 

 general health and vigour of the tree are in the same 

 way increased ; so that it will ultimately attain a greater 

 size than if deprived of such branches, or very sparingly 

 supplied vrith them. During the descent of the proper 

 juice, on the other hand, as has been seen, each branch is 

 nomished by the sap prepared by itself ; and the surplus 

 quantity beyond what is so employed goes to the increase, 

 first of the stem, and in the end of the roots. From the 

 experiments made by the most accurate observers, we 

 fiu'ther find, that the solid texture of the wood depends on 

 the quantity of the descending sap, and in a great mea- 

 sure likewise on the slowness of its descent ; both of 

 which objects are materially promoted by the lateral 

 branches.'" But should they exceed the due number 

 requisite for those important purposes, retaining too 

 much of the sap which they prepare, and affording too 

 scanty a supply to the stem, they may in ordinary cases 

 be considered as robbers, and should be curtailed by 

 pruning within proper limits. 



In this view it will be perceived that judicious pruning 

 is a work of far greater nicety and difficulty than is gene- 

 rally believed, and that it should not be permitted, unless 

 under the superintendence of some scientific person. It is 

 true it has been shown by the ingenious Mr Pontey, that 

 severe pruning wiU in some cases augment the actual 

 weight of the stem, and therefore, as he speciously arg-ues, 

 the value of the tree. But great doubts may be enter- 

 tained whether this writer, meritorious as he is, may not 

 have proceeded on erroneous principles in his theory ; 

 and that his practice in pruning has been carried to a 

 height sanctioned by neither science nor experience.f 



* Knight on the Sap of Trees, Philosoph. Trans. 1803, 1804. Mirbel, Anat. 

 et Phys. Veget. art. 6. 

 t Note V. 



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