206 



THE PLANTEE's GUIDE. 



and show in their tops more or less of what is called " a 

 weather side." This in many cases is a striking defor- 

 mity, especially in situations on the western coasts, and is 

 often seen to mar the effect of trees otherwise beautiful. 

 It proceeds from the tendency, which they generally have, 

 to throw out longer and stouter branches on the lee-side, 

 and shorter and closer branches and spray on that from 

 which the blast assails them. 



By the law of nature we find that, wherever the action 

 of the air is the greatest, there the greatest evolution of 

 buds appears, and the thickest, but weakest growth of 

 boughs and spray takes place. And this difference is so 

 remarkable that any one conversant with wood can at 

 once point out an old tree (especially a Sycamore) that 

 has been more, and one that has been less, exposed, at 

 the distance of two or three hundred yards ; and in 

 winter, when there is no foliage to conceal the difference 

 in the ramification, the thing is the most striking. Hence 

 the effect produced on trees, by bringing this decided 

 tendency to elongation of the boughs on the lee-side to 

 act on the luindward, or deficient side. In fact, it is 

 almost the only way in which art can bring about any 

 remarkable improvement on the symmetry and beauty of 

 the tops of woody plants. It is true, the practice might 

 at first sight appear rather a misdirection of the protect- 

 ing properties : but experience has shown that nature in 

 this, as in the case of judicious pruning, or retrenchment 

 of superfluous branches, bears with extraordinary patience 

 such discreet control exerted over her exuberant powers, 

 and in their subsequent development displays a vigom^ 

 even superior to what is observed in subjects which have 

 not been so disciplined. I believe, as already noticed, 

 that I am the first planter who, more than five-and- 

 thirty years since, thought of turning this natural defor- 



