90 STATE IIORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



known. But men of practical business tact will doubtless attemiic aa iuiprove- 

 luent on tbc Prentiss formula, by furtlier experiments with tlie combustion of 

 sulphur. It is desirable so to regulate the lieat generated in the combustion 

 that the vaporization of unburnt sulpluir sliall be avoided, and that the con- 

 tents of the cliamber siiall not be scorched. The thin coating of carbon, 

 which is spread over the surface of the more inllatnmable sulphur, may con- 

 tribute to this end: but that will be readily imitated, if it is found needful 

 to do so. 



In conclusion, first, the antiseptic gas stated to bo ozone is chiefly sulphur 

 dioxide, the exact value of which still remains to be proved ; second, this is 

 not the only antiseptic; third, the use of sulpliurous acid as an antiseptic is 

 not new; fourth, sulpliur becomes extremely expensive when purchased under 

 the name of ozone at SI to ^'l pov pound. 



THE RATIONAL METHOD OF TREE PRUNING. 



A PAPER KEAD BY N. H. EGLESTON, OF WILLIAMSTOWX, MASS., BEFORE 



AMERICAN FORESTRY CONGRESS. 



In this new world little attention has been given to the pruning of trees. 

 With our ample domain, giving space for all the trees, we have left them to 

 grow as they might. Our pruning, where it lias not been of tiiat heroic and 

 decisive sort which lays the axe at the roots of the trees and cuts them to the 

 ground, has been of a hap-hazard kind, based upon no system and directed 

 by no science. Each one has cut and trimmed according to his own notion or 

 whim. If the limb of a tree 1u!b been in the way, become an obstruction to 

 the walk, or intercepted some desirable lookout, it has been lopped off, usually 

 by whatever instrument convenience would supply and iu a manner to require 

 the least exertion. Tree-growers and the better class of farmers have been 

 somewhat more painstuking in their methods. Tliey have removed or sliort- 

 encd limbs with some study of aftereffects, and have so performed their work a& 

 to secure if possible the proper healing of the wounds whicli they have made. 

 But in most cases the trees have been left to themselves or have been lopped 

 with reckless carelessness. It seems to have been generally thought that- they 

 would bear any amount of mishap and the utmost severity of treatment. 

 They have been regarded rather as dead than living matter, and tiieir delicate 

 and sensitive organizations, instead of being guarded and protected with sym- 

 path zing care, have been left to bo the prey of neglect and violence. 



Tiie result has been that many of our forest trees have fallen victims to decay 

 when proper pruning would have ensured their healtliy growth to full stature, 

 and many trees planted by the roadside or the dwelling for the ]nirposes of 

 sl)a(le or ornament have become deformed and short-lived in consequence of 

 improi)er pruning. 



With the rising interest in trees and tree planting in America the import- 

 ance of pruning and its proper method oughi; to receive attention as a branch 



