The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1868-02-06
our NOnp0rcik JOO Press
w. u. SLATER. a. {


The following suggestions by the st.
Louis Rurai Worid will he found very
useful at this time:
In travelling oye the country, one
is forced to the conclusion that there
is q lamcntablc degree Of ignorance
among those who plant trees, in regard
to The laws Of vegetable physiology.
We often see whole orchards Of young
fruit trees, just planted from the nur-
sery, with all their branches entire. In
taking trees there are very few nursery
men who take the trouble 20 presei &c
entire more than half or two thirds OF
tho roots and the parts thataro cut of
are the most important, because they
contain the mouths by which the tree
is fed. 1t is through the ends Of the
minute fbrous roots that plants re
ceivc thcirnourishmlont from The soil
in a state Of solution. If u tree is de
privcd of these by violence, it fingers
until nature in her efforts restores the
injury. Now, while this Is the case
with all transplanted trees, what is to
be done to aid nature in this work Of
restoration? A tree planted with one
half its roots mutilatcd and gone, and
its top entire has lost its balance. The
trunk and branch of u healthy tree al
ways contains sufficient vital power TO
swell It's buds and open the first leaves,
even without material supply from the
roots but after the buds have thus
burst forth, they draw up or pump, (if
we may use the term the future nour
ishmcnt for the tree, through the roots
from the soil. If tho roots from the
injury they have received arc unable to
supply the demand, tie leaves will
draw upon the vital Juices, (thc blood
of the tree, which they cxhale in the
air and for want of q further supply
the tree fingers and dies. But if the
trees are shortenedand the leaves re
duced in proportion to the roots, the
leaves cxhalc no more than the rmain.
ing roots can supply--an equilibrium is
restored--the circulation goes on heal
thily and the tree RECEIVERS from the in
jury it has sustained, and by fall it
makes q vigorous growth.
Such trees, when planted, should
have all their surplus branches cut of
and tho remainder shortened, leaving
but three or four buds to each branch
Of the last years growth.
Another class Of tree planters, or the
planters Of another class oftrces, par
ticularly deciduous ornamental trees,
sach US w frequently see upon the side
walks in cities and in lawns around
country residences, are very liable to
commit m opposite blundcr. Trees in
.hese situations require to be large, and
whether nursery grown, Or naples
,lms, ETC., taken from the woods, they
ire not convenient to handle with the
branches on, and with one clean sweep
he planter decapitates his victim, leav.
not o branch behind, Now, as we
layc said before, the leaves serve to
lraw from the soil, through the roots
4 q tree, the nourishmcnt that is re-
Iuircd to build up itstrunk and branch
s. II the buds arc all cut of. there
an be no leaves, until nature in an I'm.
ne effort creates new ones. This can
My be done through the vital powers
tored up ipthe body of the tree, and
lis is often found ~insufiiciont, and the
,sult is alike diastrous rs in the case
pfore mentioned.
Besides the Office Of leaves to supply
10 tree with food from the soil, they 4.
another important Junction.,
&, that Of 6yeaMing,r The leaves are
plants what the lungs are to ami !
ais. Deprive q tree Of its leaves, and
can neither breathe nor cat and must
cessarily die. ] y i3v ml sd