100 



THE planter's GUIDE. 



headed tree is the least able to support itself in an open 

 situation. It is to trees only with insignificant heads, 

 and sparingly furnished with lateral branches, although 

 they expose a much lesser surface to the wind, that props 

 or supports are at all necessary, after being properly 

 transplanted ; and it matters little whether these defects 

 have been produced by ignorance and the axe, or by 

 undue confinement. From all which facts and observa- 

 tions it is apparent that branches, being organs to a cer- 

 tain extent necessary to the existence and health of all 

 trees, are indispensable in a peculiar degree to such as 

 are intended for removal. If the roots, in their capacity 

 of absorbents, collect and send up a supply of food to the 

 plant, the leaves, which are a constituent part of the 

 branches, in their capacity of exhalents perform a func- 

 tion at least as important, by preparing and rendering 

 that food fit for nutrition ; while the branches act as the 

 main channels in distributing it to every part of the 

 plant. Other things, therefore, being equal, it may be 

 held as an axiom in practice, that the success of the 

 planter will be nearly in proportion to the fulness of 

 ramification of top and sides which his subjects may 

 possess. 



It is further deserving of remark, that although there 

 is little more which we can do towards either beauty or 

 utility, where nature regulates the process, than humbly 

 to follow her footsteps, yet experience leads us to believe 

 that, in transplanting, (which, however, is a department of 

 art,) art may improve the balance, and of course the 

 beauty of trees, on a principle to all appearance contrary 

 to nature, and certainly opposed to all former practice. 

 It is well known to those best acquainted with woods, 

 that most trees are unequally balanced, and show what is 

 called a " weather side'' — usually to the west and south- 



