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THE PLANTEE's GUIDE. 



and soils, and make the proper selection, so it must 

 happen that trees often fail of success wholly from this 

 circimistance. 



The second cause seems to be defective roots. Roots, 

 when taken up and replanted, may sufficiently please even 

 an experienced eye, and look both abundant and healthy ; 

 but they may, and often do receive such treatment 

 between the two processes, as incapacitates them for per- 

 forming their functions as absorbents. If the roots, and 

 especially the minute fibres, are to be kept up as much as 

 possible entire, (which is a fundamental rule in the pre- 

 servative system,) it is evident that the utmost care and 

 attention are indispensable, to prevent an unnecessary 

 exposure to the atmosphere. Should that unfortunately 

 be permitted, the fibres will become discoloured, or alto- 

 gether black, and by immediately decaying, after being 

 replanted, soon occasion a corresponding decay in the 

 spray and twigs of the branches. As the sap, therefore, 

 is scantily absorbed and sent upwards, an equally scanty 

 supply of the proper juice is sent down, in order to give 

 expansion to the roots ; and although the tree carry a 

 tolerable leaf, and produce the general efi'ect contemplated 

 in its removal, still the efforts which it makes to supply 

 the parts that have been lost, retard its progress, and a 

 year or two may elapse ere the due complement be made 

 up, and the tree consequently shoot forth with ^agour. It 

 is to be feared that this cause of backwardness oftener 

 occurs than the best planters are aware of ; but it never 

 appears so fully displayed to the view as in some singular 

 case, when the tree happens again to be taken up after 

 the first or second season. 



The third cause that may be assigned, is late frost in 

 the spring of the first year, or it may be early frost in 

 the autumn of the foregoing season. Supposing that trees 



