ON THE PKUNING OF FOREST TREES. 49 



The Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea). — Stands the knife well, 

 and should be treated similar to the British oak. 



The Abele Poplar (Populus alba). — Principally pointing ; 

 being of rather a straggling habit, does well with free exercise of 

 the knife. 



The Black Italian Poplar (Populus acladesca). — Pointing ; a 

 rapid grower, and requires constant attention when young. 



The Ontario Poplar (Populus macrophylla). — Pointing and 

 close pruning ; a robust grower, and should have partial thinning. 



The Willow (Salix var.). — This tribe should be looked over 

 annually for some time after planting, when the branches which 

 require it should be pointed. Being of free growth, is apt to 

 throw out strong shoots, which soon swell into powerful limbs, 

 and these detract from the girth, and are liable to be torn from 

 the tree with every high wind. This may easily be remedied by 

 a little extra attention when the trees are young. 



The Birch (Betula alba). — Pointing, with an occasional branch 

 cut close. Under this treatment forms a most beautiful tree, but 

 should be done early in spring, as with late pruning it is apt to 

 bleed much. Does well with summer pruning. 



The Sycamore or Plane-tree (Acer Pseudo-Platanus). — Pointing 

 chiefly. This, and indeed all the Acer tribe, ought to be pruned 

 very early in the season, as otherwise they have a tendency to 

 bleed. In midsummer I have often pruned to advantage. 



From what has been stated, it will be seen that I am no advo- 

 cate for the system of extreme pruning sometimes followed, nor 

 do I approve of plantations being left entirely to themselves — a 

 plan frequently recommended with much plausibility, but found 

 in practice to be far from proper. Growing timber, if well cared 

 for when young, even although at some additional outlay, will 

 ultimately pay, while that carelessly treated never will; and 

 trees which are properly managed will always present a much 

 more pleasing appearance than those which are grudgingly at- 

 tended to. 



So seldom is it necessary to prune trees of the Coniferse or 

 Pine tribe, that one is almost afraid to approach this part of the 

 subject, more especially as the whole family are worthy objects of 

 admiration; and when allowed to stand unmolested, form in most 

 cases perfect pyramids from the green sward upwards. It is 

 important, however, to know whether it be really advantageous 

 to apply the knife to the coniferse, and also when and to what 

 extent ; and in order to assist us in the settlement of the question, 

 let us examine the subject carefully. With the view of simplify- 

 ing the inquiry, we shall divide the tribe into families, and con- 

 sider the treatment proper for each. 



1. The Pines proper, of which the Scotch fir (Pinus sylvestris) 

 is the type. Little can be done in the way of assisting these 



D 



