THE SECKETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 245 



had been grown for the purpose rather than those from the fields, and if such 

 care were taken that all this cutting back would be unnecessary. This is a 

 subject on which we need not dwell, for if we insisted upon this not one tree 

 would be set where dozens are planted now, and we need all and more than all 

 our people can be induced to plant. But the bad results for the first few years 

 can be avoided, as I have found by experience, by a little attention to the 

 cutting back — a work which seems to me so feasible that I want to urge it 

 upon every tree planter in our land. If the tree selected has a central main 

 stem or leader cut this back to some small branch springing from it at as 

 slight an angle as can be found, and so growing nearly erect. Cut this back 

 to a similar branchlet growing from its upper side, and remove all other twigs 

 or buds. If necessary cut oS all the lower side branches close to the main 

 stem, but if any can be left select those which are symmetrically disposed 

 about the trunk and cut them back in the same way as the central one. 



The simple rule is, always remove a branch altogether, or cut it back to a 

 branchlet from it which has the same general direction and character, and 

 remove all other branchlets or twigs. Even if the condition of the tree 

 requires the pruning to be so severe that the branchlets left are very few and 

 small, still, if they are well selected, it is astonishing to see how much they will 

 do towards directmg and moulding the future development of the tree, and it 

 will be a pleasing surprise to one who has been used to trees cut back in the 

 usual way, to see how quickly a tree pruned on this plan will assume a graceful 

 form. Evergreens should be cut back on the same principle. Usually there 

 will be found growing from the upper side of the branches shoots having the 

 same direction as the branch itself, and if we cut back to one of these the mu- 

 tilation will scarcelv be noticeable, even the first season. 



TREE PLANTING. 



A correspondent of the New York Tribune makes some good points on tree 

 planting. We abstract from his article : 



I don't yield to anybody in my love for trees in their proper place; but there 

 is no more reason why we should bower all country roads with trees than why 

 we should cover all village greens with thickets. Sunshine is a Godsend in 

 both places, — and, for that matter, in all places. But what I most object to 

 in the urgence and crudity of this tree-planting crusade is its assumption that 

 a row of trees on either side of a highway is to redeem all country roads and to 

 complete their attractiveness. This is like saying a man will be well dressed if he 

 only has a sleeve on each arm. He wants more, to be decently clothed ; and our 

 roadsides want something n)ore than a gospel of trees to make them what they 

 should be. Nor should the first teaching of country-bred children be in the 

 line of trees, so much as in the lines of order and neatness. 



A little while ago, in the adjoining State of Connecticut (over whose border 

 I sometimes go on a summer's drive), the "improving" people of the legislature 

 passed an edict that all wild tree and bush growth should be removed from the 

 whole breadth of liighways lying between the fences. The consequence has 

 been that many a quiet country road that was charming mainly by reason of 



