50 ON THE PRUNING OF FOREST TREES. 



beyond shortening a wild side shoot or double leader. Being 

 less free in pushing fresh shoots than the generality of hard- 

 woods, it must be borne in mind that when a branch is removed 

 from a pine, the gap thereby made is less likely to fill up, and 

 hence some consideration is necessarry before operating. But 

 this caution applies more particularly to specimens, as in ordi- 

 nary plantations the regularity of the branches is not so much 

 observed. In plantations of Scotch fir, when the lower branches 

 lose their vigour, and their growth is at a stand-still, as com- 

 pared with those higher up on the tree, they can be close pruned 

 with much advantage and perfect safety. Where the timber is 

 planted moderately thick, the lower shoots will be kept in check, 

 and led to decay ; and, when being removed, much caution has 

 to be exercised, in case of hurting the stem, as the blood-vessels 

 of the pines being larger than those of other trees, and not so 

 easily healed, improper wounds may continue to run for years, 

 and ultimately kill the tree. In all resinous-producing trees the 

 drawing of blood should as much as possible be avoided. The 

 above remarks apply to the whole of this family. 



2. The next division of coniferae is the Abies, or Spruce fir, of 

 which the Norway Spruce may be taken as the type. This class 

 will bear pruning more or less, and some of them with advan- 

 tage. But this variety never shows with finer effect than when 

 allowed to grow naturally, attention being only given to the 

 checking of over-growths and double leaders. Where they are 

 permitted free space to expand their branches properly, there is 

 perhaps not a more attractive tree for the outline of the lawn or 

 pleasure ground. The Abies americana nigra, or Black Spruce, or 

 Abies americana alba o,ndrubrct,all require similar treatmentto the 

 Norway Spruce, unless grown somewhat thick, which will cause 

 the branches to decay, and these should at once be cleared away. 

 The Douglas Pine, or Abies Douylasii variety, is less liable to be 

 injured by pruning, indeed it is often necessary to use the knife 

 pretty freely to this sort. When young, they frequently throw 

 up double tops ; also, the side shoots often come away very 

 strong and form themselves into leaders, so that unless checked 

 at this stage they take more the habit of bushes than trees. But 

 they are easily kept under, and stand the knife well when applied 

 to the young branches ; are of very free growth, and when they 

 attain about six feet in height there is less fear of the side shoots 

 overtaking the leader. Perhaps this is the finest of all the Abies 

 tribe. They make magnificent specimens, and are rapid growers. 

 The timber is said to be excellent ; and were it more within 

 bounds in price, this, in my humble opinion, is the only real 

 substitute for the larch. If looked after, which I hope it may 

 come to be, it is likely to play a prominent part in the commer- 

 cial world at no very distant period. 



