362 Method of ascertaining the Value 



do we see the pruning performed in a -judicious manner. 

 This business should commence early, never suffering the 

 branches on the intended stem or bole to grow to a large 

 size, in order that, when cut off, the wounds may be small 

 and soon healed. Those who want directions for performing 

 the operation, may think it well to consult Mr. Pontey's 

 Forest Pruner. There are, however, divers opinions as to the 

 most profitable height to which trees ought to be pruned, 

 and the instruments most proper for pruning ; some persons 

 objecting to the use of the saw, unless afterwards smoothed 

 by the knife ; and not a few objecting to pruning in any 

 way ; the consequence of which is, that we often find trees 

 that stand single, particularly oaks, with boles not more than 

 six or eight feet high, but with wide spreading bushy tops, 

 fit only for the fire. The shade and drip of one such tree \s 

 sometimes found to do more injury than four well- trained 

 trees, and perhaps it is not of half the value of one of them. 

 On the contrary, trees in close plantations are often suffered 

 to stand so much too thick as to destroy each others 

 branches, excepting only a few small ones near their tops ; 

 and not unfrequently we see tall elms trimmed up to within a 

 few feet of their summits — it is certain that such trees must 

 sweli very slowly in their boles ; for we find in woods where 

 the trees are ail of the same age, that those with the largest 

 tops have generally the thickest holes. 



There is no doubt a medium length of bole for different 

 kinds of trees on different soils, that will be found produc- 

 tive of more timber, or timber of more value, than boles- 

 that are much longer or much shorter. And although we 

 may not be able previously to decide with certainty what 

 that exact length of bole is, in any kind of trees, on any 

 soil, which will eventually prove most profitable, yet it is 

 deserving of investigation, if we can thereby approach with 

 certainty to within a few feet of the exact point. It is cer- 

 tainly a matter of too much importance to be left, as it ge- 

 nerally is, to each individual woodman to decide upon, ac- 

 cording to his own vague opinion. I shall, therefore, take 

 the liberty of stating by what steps I have endeavoured to 

 approximate towards the most profitable lengths of boles of 



trees 



