502 COUNT DE CARS' BOOK. [Dec. 



trees. Still sometimes, and in some places, a tree is more esteemed 

 for its ancestral value and its position in the landscape, than for its 

 highest pecuniary value ; that is, its standing value as an historical 

 object is more precious and dear to its owner than its greatest 

 timber value as a prostrate log. Xo device in such a case that 

 will tend to prevent decay ought to be despised. 



Count de Cars says that " the secret of obtaining complete 

 cure in all operations requiring the removal of a branch, either 

 living or dead, consists in cutting close to and perfectly even with 

 the trunk," and so on. 



" It is (remarks Captain Eogers) a great fallacy to suppose that 

 the wound, caused by cutting off a branch even with tlie trunk, is 

 ever healed over. The dead surface is only covered over with living 

 wood." 



True, but only so when the branch is previously dead, and so 

 dead that the cutting off of it level to the trunk does not reach 

 the quickwood of the trunk. Then the dead surface can only be 

 covered with living wood. But even that is better than a defunct 

 branch slowly falling to dust from the tree of its own accord, and 

 will do something to conserve the life of the tree. Xow if the 

 branch was living instead of dead when cut off, the application of 

 " tar " to the wound will preserve the wood until the process of 

 healing is complete, and the wood of the w^ound will be as sound 

 and good as any other part of the trunk. Where Captain Eogers' 

 criticism appears weak is because he looks upon all branches as 

 being dead before they are cut from the tree — at least he only 

 speaks of dead surfaces ; so that we are forced to conclude that he 

 appears to have a settled conviction that all branches are dead before 

 they are removed. Well, if all branches were dead before they are 

 cut from the tree, they ought not to be so (this is said of hardwood 

 trees), since, if v\'e ask ourselves this simple question, Why do 

 branches die ? among many answers which might be given, this 

 main reason is clear : They die for lack of light and air, which is a 

 result of injudicious treatment and a want of proper sympathy in 

 man with the requirements of the tree. The more we look into this 

 vrork of pruning, the more evident is it that it is an operation 

 which should be done early, done regularly, and continued to finality. 

 Count de Cars says : " The principle being established that large 

 w^ounds can be made without injury to the tree," etc. Captain 

 Eogers demurs to that, and so do I, but not for the same reason. 

 I demur to it because I think " the principle cannot be established," 

 that large wounds can be inflicted without more or less injury to 

 the tree. Captain Eogers demurs to it because " timber merchants 

 do not think so, and would rather see a decayed stump projecting 



