AgEj Size, Roots. 



roots would die ; and if the tree itself did not die, it would 

 certainly never thrive. You ought to cut off no root quite 

 close to the stem ; but leave it to a length proportioned to 

 its size, a specimen of which is pretty accurately given in 

 the Plate, Once more let me impress upon the reader, the 

 necessity of using a knife perfectly sharp, which is more 

 difficult to be provided for in the case of roots, than in the 

 case of branches or twigs. The root is a soft and sort of 

 woolly substance compared to the wood of the tree ; and 

 if the knife be not sharp, it» will leave part of the bark of 

 the root in shape of a sort of ragged fringe coming out 

 beyond the cut. This ragged bark is sure to rot, and 

 it communicates rottenness, very frequently, to a great 

 part of the root, and with a rotten root a tree will not 

 thrive well. 



74. As to the pruning of the heads of the trees, I shall 

 speak of that in my observations that will come under the 

 alphabetical head; and, now, having got the young trees 

 ready for planting, all that remains to be done, under this 

 head of General Instructions, is to speak of the manner 

 of performing the work of planting. I have already 

 spoken of the sorts of ground in which to plant Timber 

 Trees and Underwood ; of the method of preparing the 

 ground for planting, and of the expense; of fencing the 

 ground; of the times of the year, and of the weather for 

 planting; of the age and size of the plants, and of pre- 

 paring the roots for planting. All that remains, therefore, 

 is, to speak, under this General Head, of the act or work 

 of planting, and of the cultivation after planting. 



