Jim asked: How do you recognize the potential in a scraggly, runted tree?

Answer: Develop your "inner eye".
I once went out with a friend looking for potentsai. He spotted a beautiful
beech. I knew right away it would be a loser; but he insisted, so I pitched
in to help him dig it. Why did I think it was not suitable?
1. I knew that beeches have roots that cling to the surface and stretch out
many meters from the trunk.
2. The lowest branch was more than a meter from the base.

While he was busy with his beech, I looked around and found 5 little
mountain laurels. It took me 5 minutes to dig all of them. After we lugged
his beech to the wagon, I brought over my little treasure trove.
"Where did you find them", he asked,
" I didn't see them while I was looking."
When I told him that my inner eye found them, he looked at me quizzicaly and
remained quiet for a long time.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Lewis"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 9:50 AM
Subject: [IBC] Growing Bonsai in the UK (help for a beginner)

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