1886.] SHOULD CONIFEROUS TREES BE PRUNED? (;33 



more and its variegated varieties. The planes are quite at home, 

 and are forming fine avenues. Among shrubs tlie rhododendrons 

 are very fine. An ivy planted against a stump has grown up and 

 assumed the tree form ; it is a handsome object. Eucryphia Moorei 

 is a very handsome ilowering shrub that ought to be more cultivated. 

 Telopea speciosisswius — the Waratah of New South Wales — grows 

 extremely vigorous ; it is producing large and fine flowers. Ericas 

 do exceedingly well, especially the British species. 



SHOULD CONIFEROUS TREES BE PRUNED I 



TO the question as to wliether coniferte should be primed, 1 

 answer yes, if they require it and it is well done. Certain 

 species, particularly those of the fir, larch, and pine tribes, when 

 grown in masses together in the way in which they grow in nature, 

 require little or no pruning beyond what nature does for herself in 

 the circumstances. The natural habit of such trees is to produce a 

 balance between stem and branch, which is, apart from accident, 

 perfect. It is rare, except when by accident the leading shoot of 

 the stem becomes broken, that the balance of symmetry is disturbed. 

 In such a case pruning is necessary to rectify the disorder, and 

 unless it is attended to in time the value of the timber will be 

 affected adversely in the majority of instances, and probably the' 

 lives of the trees endangered. For it is when young only that 

 resinous trees, which all conifera3 are more or less, should be 

 pruned. Large vigorous limbs may not be cut from them with the 

 same impunity that they may be cut from non-resinous trees. 

 Bleeding more or less is sure to follow any considerable amputation, 

 and it often continues for years, causing death eventually. Any 

 such risk is entirely avoided by pruning when the growth is fresh 

 and young ; and should any departure from the natural balance of 

 individual trees have been allowed to continue for years, I should 

 say that, instead of operating on limbs which have acquired con- 

 siderable size and are healthy, it would be better to leave them 

 alone. Conifera3 that are grown thickly together in their natural 

 conditions should receive attention in their earlier years, to prevent 

 any tendency in individuals to decline from the balance between 

 branch and stem which is true to their habit of growth ; and the 

 first few years after planting is all the time that such attention will 

 be required. The removal of dead branches from all trees is so 

 manifestly desirable from all points of view, that one would think 

 little should require to be said on the point. Yet there are those 



