Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-07-05

UJ Inc foSLage tnuSt oe PaIo o1a GA So"Ai"o
nications.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF PRUNING.
We apprehend the common practices il
this branch ofrural labor are not altogether
based upon sound philosophy. The ami
NAL structure, we all know, is admirably
adapted to its wants, to its habits, and to it,
uses. There is no surpussage--no useles:
incumbrance-all is necessary to fulfil the
designs Of nature. From analogy, as vel
as from the system and order which every
where pervade the visible creation, is it moi
reasonable 10 infer, that every part of the
vegetable structure is alike essential to its
well being? Are not the branches and
leaves as essential to the tree, as the limbs
and lungs are to the animal? Who will
say otherwisel Nature produces nothing
in vain. Although we may assist IN car.
zying out her designs, we cannot cross her
purposes without suffering the penalty lm-
posed for violation of her laws:
No part ola plant can be affected with
out affecting the other parts. Roots and
branches reciprocally produce and nourish
each other. If a tree has part Of its roots
destroyed, the branches which these sup
piled decay; and when some Of the branch
es are destroyed, some Of the roots perish
also. The extent and form ofthe one, will
in a measure ever correspond with the ex.
tent and form of The other. Ifa young tree
is kept close pruned, dlves!ed Of its limbs
and foliage. it IS soon stunted in its growth,
the wood becomes carious, and diseased,
and the plant is short.lived. If, therefore,
We destroy equilibrium-which nature has
established, between roots and branches, BY
greatly diminishing the one or the other, we
fhwart her designs. and mistake Our inter
est. Every branch has its roots-lis mouths
.---in the soil. to supply it with the elements
ofits food and every root has It's branch
and its leaves-i,s lungs-!n the air, to
convert these elements into food. for tie
Joint benefit of them both and Of the stem.
One cannot attain growth without the co.
operation of the other. Without the roots
the plant cannot obtain the elements of
food; without the leaves those elements, il
taken into the system. are Of no benefit !;
but, on the contrary, like the undigesled
food upon the animal stomach, generate
disease, rather than promote health and Wig.
or. Every leaf performs its Office in the
process of nutrition and growth; and, other
circumstances being alike, the increase in
the growth Of the plant, will be in the pro-
portion to the number of healthy leaves il
one half of these be destroyed, the growth
will be but one halt as great as il the whole
had remained-ifco complete deioliation takes
place, the growth will enllrely cease. Hence
pruning decreases growth, in proportion to
the extent or severity with which it is prac-
sised.
"Whenever tree has live spray cut
from it. an injury is inflicted on that tree
thatcan never entirely be repaired. Every
wound received is stored up; and if wounds
be constantly added, they will accumulate to
adegree too great to be borne, and the tree
will sink under its infirmities. 1t is useless
to attempt to transfer the timber of the
honghs 20 the Stem. or to con6ne the growth
of timber entirely TO the stem. However
desirable it may be to the pruner, to have
all the growth diverted to the increase of
the stem, he never will be able to. effect it.
He may, like the dog, sna at the shadow,
and lose the substance; but never will he
be able, by pruning off the boughs to in.
crease the growth of the stem one jot. No;
the size of the stem will be in proportion tc
the head il has 10 support. The stem is n1
as he may imagine, production formed
merely for the use of man it is the canal
or passage, in which the juicespass between
the roots and branches and the size Of thi
passage is always IN proportion to the Off
ces j. has to perform. If the number o
branches meaning to include leaves bs
increased, The quantity of sap passing be
tween them and the roofs will be increased
greater space is necessary for the in
creased quantity of sap, and consequent!
the stem is increased. Let the head of tn
tree increase, and depend upon it, there vii
be corresponding increase ofthe stem.
sit is said to bo righ. to cut away small
proportion ofthe weaker branches, and turl
the current of the descending sap NOR
abundantly into the stem. 1t is hard to un
derstand what is meant by this explanation
Of the effects ofpruning. Does the sap de
scend down the stem Till it arrives at tn,
weaker branches, and then ascend up then
and increase their size, instead of that o
The sem? If SO. the weaker b.anche