130 KEPOKT ON THE MANAGEMENT AND VALUE OF POPLAR. 



lated to choke very small plants, the trees should not be less than 

 5 or 6 feet high when planted. 



Finally, A small reserve of plants in the corner of the planta- 

 tion, from which to supplement any blanks that may occur, 

 would meet most requirements. 



Planting being finished, it may be asked, What further treat- 

 ment do the trees require ? We answer, None, save the exercise 

 of a little light work. Pruning is undesirable — thinning is not 

 required. The latter, indeed, could be of no advantage at the 

 distance at which the trees are planted apart, and would only 

 lessen the value of the crop as a marketable article. Where 

 thinning is truly required, it should by no means be withheld ; 

 but let it be remembered that where it cannot positively benefit it 

 certainly does harm. The evils resulting from it are visible in 

 those trees contiguous to the ones cut down. The former some- 

 times are seen to languish — more frequently the side of the tree 

 confronting the one removed becomes hardened to such a degree 

 as often to obstruct the ascent of the sap in the vessels of the 

 wood. This accounts frequently for trees of stinted growth. 

 Another evil is the exposing a tree, generally as bare of roots as 

 of branches, to the force of the wind, and thus rendering it liable 

 to be blown down. Again, the branches which have lost their 

 vitality, on being thus submitted to the influence of light, heat, 

 and drying winds, soon become baked and dried, and thus remain 

 years longer upon the trees, and so fester into the wood, and 

 become in time black knots — a serious detriment to stave wood, 

 to which poplar is extensively applied. 



Of pruning we have said that it is undesirable — that is, in 

 all cases where it can be avoided. As, however, it is frequently 

 necessary, we shall speak a little of its nature and extent. 



1st, To counteract the tendency which poplar has of shooting 

 aloft without carrying breadth along with it, care must be taken 

 not to diminish the lateral branches. The common practice of 

 pruning hardwood generally is to bare the stem to about one 

 third of its height. Though as a general rule this system may 

 do, yet it will not answer with poplar. By pruning off the lower 

 branches of that tree, the roots are the greatest sufferers. The 

 evil soon extends to every part of the tree, but want of space 

 forbids details here. 



2d, Where two top shoots strive for pre-eminence, lop off one 

 of them, leaving the one which is situated on the exposed side of 

 the tree. 



3d, Where the roots have been injured by removal or other- 

 wise, so as to be unable to nourish the whole of the tree, prune 

 the largest upper branches, but not the lower ones. 



4th, Where a top becomes spreading, and none of the shoots 

 form an upright leader, cut off the whole top that a new one may 



