244 Improvement of Forest Plantations. 
to the plant or tree ; hence, to cut off a twig, or to remove a bud, unless 
it bediseased, is, infact, a 6ona^^(Ze act of destruction on an essential 
member. 1 therefore consider all loppings and prunings to be injuri- 
ous, when bulk of timber is the object in view ; and although we prune 
and disbud wall fruit-trees to obtain fruit-buds within certain limits, we 
certainly do any thing thereby but improve the strength and vitality of 
the tree, in as much as regards its bulk in timber, and its ultimate dura- 
tion. On natural and philosophical principles therefore, / disclaim 
against lopping an I pruning Timber Trees. 
"The second deduction is, that as trees and plants of all kinds are hy- 
dio-carbonous bodies, the supply of food to the roots of such bodies 
should be of a nature, as nearly as possible, resembling the component 
parts of the body to be nourished; and therefore, manures are, and 
must be of real utility to trees and plints of almost every description." 
I cannot conclude this paper without observing that deep trenching 
and nice pulverization of the soil, are of vital importance to the speedy 
rooting, and rapid growth of trees. Sir Henry Stewart, who, strange to 
say, has objected to Mr. Withers's plan of deep culture, is, or was, one 
of the most strenuous advocates of the practice which he impugns; for 
in his "Planter's Guide," he says "trees require depth of soil to raise 
them to perfection. Soils considered as agents of vegetable culture, are 
subjected to operations, which effect changes on them either mechani- 
ically or chemically. Of the former description there are none so im- 
portant for the use of trees as deepening and pulverizing. Deepening 
can be executed with effect only by trenching or double-digging, (for the 
plough can do little in such a business,) and pulverizing is naturally 
combined with that process. The first great object should be to give 
scope to the young roots and fibres ; because without fibres in abun- 
dance no woody plant can shoot freely and develope its parts, whatever 
be the richness of the soil. The fibrous roots absorb the juices by means 
of introsusception ; * but the quantity absorbed does not depend alone 
on the quantity existing in the soil, but on the number of the absorbing 
fibres. The more we can coraminate the soil, the more those fibres will 
be increased, the more this nourishment will be absorbed, and the more 
vigorous and healthy the plant will become." 
The limits prescribed have constrained me to abbreviate much, or 
rather to select a few choice and appropriate sentences ; but the extracts 
are literally faithful, and I trust cannot fail to be abundantly conclusive. 
I remain, Gentlemen, yours, &c. 
G. I. T. 
' Your nadcvs who iKisjf^s tlic '■ Domrstic riardenei's Manual," are referred to the secortd 
;»nil tliiirt iKiragiajili!' of piiii'i' f^ii, in wliii.h I lie Liilrosuwoptioii of the nutritive vegetable fluids, 
rs Ircutcil oIhs an rl'-ctriiKl plitiK.inrMoii. 
