86 
COURSE OF THE SAP. 
[Part II. 
the shoots of pollards and coppice-stools is, that 
they, the minor body, receive the sap transmitted 
by all the old wood, from all the roots, which 
supply was adapted and sufficient for the growth 
of the larger body, — the head lately cut off. 
But it is only by lateral transmission that 
the new crop of shoots can avail themselves of 
the whole sap supplied to the stem or stool by 
the roots. Were the channels of the sap through 
the wood only longitudinal, the new shoots 
would only get the supply of those vessels on 
which they were seated, and they would have no 
freer growth than ordinary shoots. The sap, in 
fact, flows freely in any and every direction 
through the whole wood; and in forest pruning, 
that sap which Nature may be said to have 
intended for an amputated branch, she imme¬ 
diately converts to the extra growth of the leader 
and the remaining branches. Thus, where tall 
clean timber is required, the gradual, I had 
almost said annual , removal of ill-placed or un¬ 
duly large branches does good in two ways; 
for, while undesirable growth is destroyed, an 
annual fillip may be given to the growth which 
is desired to an indefinite period. 
