RErORT ON THE PRUNING OF THE RARER CONIFERS. 335 



but those in the upper part of the county are generally stone, 

 which are easily kept up, and at the same time are excellent 

 shelter for stock. Although lime is plentiful and cheap through- 

 out the county, there is not so much used as might be ; and it 

 would be advisable if farmers were bound by their leases to lime 

 all their land once during the currency of their lease, as suffi- 

 cient advantage is not taken of this valuable fertiliser, which is 

 by far the cheapest manure that can be used. The principal 

 landed proprietors in Dumfriesshire are the Duke of Buccleuch, 

 whose rent roll reaches nearly L.80,000 per annum ; the Earl of 

 Mansfield ; Marquis of Queensberry ; Mr Hope Johnstone of 

 Annandale ; Sir William Jardine of Applegarth ; Sir Frederick 

 Johnstone of Western all ; Sir John Heron Maxwell of Spring- 

 kell ; Mr Jardine of Castlemilk, M.P. ; the Misses Baird of Close- 

 burn; Messrs Curruthers of Dormont; Mackenzie of N/ewbie; and 

 Leny of Dalswinton. 



REPORT ON THE PRUNING OF THE RARER CONIFERS. 



By Robert Hutchison of Carlowrie, Kirkliston. 



[Premium — Medium Gold Medal.] 



We are aware that, in advocating the pruning of coniferse, 

 especially of the rarer and more recently introduced varieties, 

 we are opposing the opinion and practice which is commonly 

 received and followed on the subject. Many foresters, even 

 among those who use the pruning-knife and chisel freely upon 

 hard-wood trees, never interfere in any way with the habit and 

 growth of a conifer, deeming that the risk of fatal injury from 

 gumming, or bleeding, is so great as to counterbalance any good 

 that might be expected to result from removing superfluous and 

 ill-placed branches. The consequence of this course of action 

 may be seen all over the country in the gaunt specimens of larch, 

 silver, spruce, and Scots fir, which are constantly met with — 

 much too small in diameter and trunk for their height, and 

 carrying too little timber for their age ; whereas, had these 

 trees been subjected in their youth to a system of judicious and 

 skilful pruning, they would have been materially improved, not 

 only in beauty but in value. It is much safer and better, 

 however, under any circumstances, to leave trees to grow as 

 nature and the soil prompt, than to commit the chisel or pruning- 

 knife into the hands of an ignorant and unskilful workman. 

 One forester's injudicious pruning may do mischief which years 

 will not repair ; and it is much to be regretted that in many 

 cases the care of plantations is committed to untrained and 

 consequently unskilful hands. The pruning of coniferce, in parti- 



