THE PLANTER S GUIDE. 



99 



sistent with the established fact, that a more active vege- 

 tation is carried on on the warmer than the colder sides 

 of trees, and a greater deposition of nutrient matter 

 consequently made on the former : because by far the 

 largest and longest branches are always found on the 

 warmer side, though more thinly disposed oyer it — and 

 they prove the superior activity of vegetation there ; 

 while the shorter, but weaker and more crowded style of 

 ramification on the colder side shows, in like manner, its 

 inferior activity. Nevertheless, the clothing of leaves is 

 in this way usually thicker, for the wise purpose of 

 defence from cold, on the side last mentioned. 



This is extremely well illustrated in the general 

 development of the position of branches, which we see 

 assume all the varieties of form, from the reflected to the 

 horizontal and the upright. In all these instances it is 

 observable that the lowermost branches are parallel to 

 the surface of the soil on which they grow, even although 

 its smface should be the sloping side of a hill ; owing, as 

 is supposed by phytologists, to the evolution of a greater 

 number of buds on the side that forms the obtuse angle 

 with the surface, in consequence of its being exposed to 

 the action of a greater mass of air.'"' From this state- 

 ment, however, it will be perceived that the most exposed 

 tree is, generally speaking, the most picturesque and 

 beautiful. 



To the inexperienced planter it may seem paradoxical 

 to assert, that the largest-headed tree, if well balanced, is 

 the best calculated, on removal, to resist the winds. But 

 the assertion is nevertheless true, if the foregoing facts be 

 correctly given : because, as the roots are always corre- 

 lative to the branches, it will be found that the smallest- 



* Physiolog. Bot. vol. ii. p. 256. La Nature Devoilee, Dial. xiv. See 

 Note VI. 



