GENERAL CULTURE 183 
brium between their tops and their roots which 
this astonishing fact shows to be so important, 
so that the latter draw up just the right amount 
of water to supply what the former transpire. 
And this equilibrium must be maintained, which 
brings us to the first consideration incident 
to the work of planting, namely the cutting back 
of tops to meet the root loss that is always un- 
avoidable. It is not always easy to judge just 
what the latter has been, when stock is received 
from a nursery; yet careful examination of the 
roots will usually make it fairly clear and a 
little more vigorous pruning at the top than 
seems absolutely necessary is always wise. For 
instance, if one-quarter of a root system seems 
to have been injured, one-third of the top 
should be sacrificed rather than one-fifth, for 
branch and leaf will make haste to put forth 
and catch up with the roots that overbalance 
them, whereas an insufficient root system, over- 
drained by too much top, cannot be made up so 
quickly and will cause the whole plant to 
languish and weaken, just as an underfed per- 
son or animal, making it an especially likely 
subject for disease to attack. 
Cut away all damaged roots in the first place, 
and trim all stumps smooth and clean of 
slivers and loose fibers, that there may be no. 
