28 



THE FOOD OF TREES IS IMBIBED 



PT. II. 



at eight or ten, times tlie distance of the length of the 

 branches from the trunk ; and were we to imagine that 

 part of the head of a tree which is above the lowest tier of 

 branches taken off, and added to the ends of the lowest 

 tier, so as to form a circle in one plane like a wheel, 

 instead of a spherical circle like a ball, we should not 

 Jiave a bad idea of the general shape of the root, both 

 in form and extent of circumference. Consequently, 

 the extremities of the roots, with their supposed spon- 

 gioles, are very far removed from the supposed drip 

 from the outside of the head of a tree. 



But in reference to this drip round the outside of 

 the heads of trees, the phenomenon may be seen from 

 umbrellas and roofs. But trees are neither umbrellas 

 nor roofs, as those who take shelter under them will find. 

 As long as their leaves and branches can absorb or hold 

 on their surface the mass which falls, they will afford 

 shelter. But after that the rain will not trickle outside 

 the circle, but perpendicularly through every part of 

 the head. Thus much for what takes place when the 

 trees are in leaf For six or seven months, however, 

 they are without leaves. And in the spring they are 

 without them, at the particular time when the great 

 upward supply is required for the very formation of 

 the leafy canopy which is supposed to supply the sup- 

 The head poscd circlc of spougiolcs. This leafy canopy, far from 



robs the . , . , . ' 



root of a supplying the circle around it and below it with rain^ 



little rain, ri J & ^ ) 



but more -^q]^^ Qf much as is absorbcd by the leaves, or as is 



than repays ' 



demation!"' evaporated from their surface. But this robbery is 



