112 ON PRUNING. [June 



evinced by those who treat trees under their care in either way. 

 Pruning should never, except in cases of extreme necessity, be allowed 

 to take the form of amputation. Every leaf and branch during the 

 period in which the structure of the tree is being formed, is of vital im- 

 portance to the object in view. The forester's care should be to preserve 

 all in perfect balance. He must remember that the reciprocal action of 

 the roots and the leaves of a tree forms the economy of its life. He 

 cannot cut its roots away and reasonably expect the foliage to 

 expand, nor denude it of foliage without paralyzing the functions of 

 its roots. The use of the saw, the pruning-hook, or even the knife, 

 should be avoided in pruning as much as possible. They are mainly 

 valuable in remedying the ill effects of accident or neglect. The 

 finger and thumb are the only instruments essential to the moulding 

 of the structure of a well-balanced tree while it is young. When it 

 becomes older, the use of implements may become necessary to 

 maintain the balance established ; the removal of ill-placed branches, 

 the checking of laterals that compete with the leader for supremacy, 

 and over-luxuriance in any part at the cost of other parts. All 

 trees, it may be observed, are more or less pyramidal in the form of 

 their growth while young, and that particular form is maintained in 

 many to an advanced age. The advantages of this form in respect 

 of the action of light on all parts of the tree are obvious. The 

 bulk of the foliage is displayed below and cannot be overshadowed 

 by that above, hence the benefits of the influence of the sun are 

 distributed in an equal degree on all parts alike. The tendency 

 after a time in hardwood trees is, however, to break away from 

 this form into irregularity. This must be checked by the forester, 

 who stops or pinches away the first break tliat manifests itself in 

 this iDciy. Two leaders should never be permitted to compete with 

 each other ; the weakest or the worst placed one must be removed 

 by rubbing it off, while soft enough to be so treated. So, all lateral 

 shoots that show a tendency to disturb the balance of foliage at all 

 sides, should be stopped in their centres so as to check the flow of 

 sap towards themselves, and divert it to other branches of weaker 

 character. 



When to prune. — As in regard to the mode, so in regard to the 

 best time for pruning, there is great diversity of opinion. But there 

 are many reasons in favour of doing all manner of pruning during 

 summer ; excepting perhaps rough amputations which would prove 

 inconvenient and also destructive to foliage if done at that season. 

 The most obvious advantage of summer pruning, over that of any 

 other season, is that wounds, if any are made, have to cicatrize to 

 some extent before growth ceases. Some trees, while they are in 

 growth, having a tendency to bleed if wounded, must not be pruned 



