14 
THE FOOD OF TREES IS IMBIBED [Part II. 
Proportion the 
head of a trans¬ 
planted tree to 
the root. 
Prefatory re¬ 
mark to enter¬ 
ing on physio¬ 
logy of trees. 
PART II. 
THEORY OF TRANSPLANTING, OR, PHYSIOLOGY OF 
TREES IN REFERENCE TO TRANSPLANTING. 
CHAPTER I. 
THE FOOD OF TREES IS IMBIBED BY THE 
SURFACE OF THE ROOTS. 
The supply must be equal to the demand; if 
not, scarcity will ensue. He who expects that 
a diminished root will support an undiminished 
head will be disappointed. This is the funda¬ 
mental principle of transplanting. And in trans¬ 
planting, the head must be curtailed exactly in 
proportion as you have to curtail the root. 
Before entering on physiology, I would say 
one word to defend myself from the charge of 
egotism and plagiarism. When I mention Sir 
Humphrey Davy, I may say that immortal 
names are among those who have written on the 
physiology of trees. Yet so much doubt and 
difference prevail among the authors on the 
