48 REPORT ON THE PRUNING OF FOREST TREES. 



to its being proceeded with sooner, in case of severe frost after- 

 wards setting in, which I have always found to be highly injurious 

 to such of the trees as have fresh wounds on them. Autumn 

 pruning is not to be recommended, for the reason that the plan- 

 tations are then going into a state of rest for the winter, and 

 perfecting their wood of the past season. It is, therefore, much 

 to their advantage if they are let alone at this time. But in 

 midsummer a good deal of light pruning may be done, such as 

 pointing and relieving the tops, and balancing the trees, and 

 cuts heal readily at this period of the year. But no heavy prun- 

 ing ought on any account to be attempted at this season. 



Where time permits, young plantations ought to be looked 

 over in the course of the summer, and their condition regulated. 

 The great fault of all our pruning hitherto has been in allowing 

 the trees to be too old before commencing such operations ; and 

 were we to combine close pruning with pointing in all cases 

 where both are required, the latter will always fully make up 

 for any loss the plants may sustain by the former. Simple as 

 this mode of treatment may appear, it will be found, on being 

 adopted, to aid materially nature's exertions in carrying on and 

 perfecting her work. 



The following hardwoods are specially adapted for the manage- 

 ment now recommended ; while each sort will be found to thrive 

 best under the particular treatment of pointing, close pruning, 

 &c, given with the accompanying list : — 



The Ash {Fraxinus excelsior). — Pointing and close pruning. 

 This variety is very apt to get into large heads, unless kept under 

 by pointing, and the leader allowed clear head room. Also 

 requires thinning occasionally. 



The Beech {Fagus sylvatica). — Principally thinning the 

 branches by close pruning, and all stragglers shortened. 



Spanish Chestnut (Castanea vesca). — Pointing and close prun- 

 ing. Liable to run away with strong side shoots if not looked 

 after in time by pointing. 



The Elm (Ulmus rnontana). — Pointing principally, with an 

 occasional branch cut clean off where too thick. 



The Lime (Tilia europcea). — Pointing ; makes most beautiful 

 specimens by such treatment, few or none of the branches 

 requiring to be cut clean off for a time. As the tree advances, 

 thinning becomes necessary. 



The Oak (Quercus Robur). — Pointing and close pruning. 

 Piequires to be often looked over, every season at least. Young 

 trees in a healthy state make rapid growths in a season, and soon 

 ran wild if not attended to by pointing. 



The Turkey Oak (Quercus Cerris). — The same treatment as the 

 British oak. Principally pointing when the shoots are young. This 

 variety is a very rapid grower, and has a tendency to straggle. 



