1G8 LEAF CANOPY AND PEUNING. l^^^- 



This prejudice against much pruning will be strengthened by its 

 apparent resemblance to the methods rather of gardening than 

 forestry. It recognises each individual tree, and bestows attention on 

 each separately. Now the characteristic methods of sylviculture 

 are in general of wider and more comprehensive scope — not attempt- 

 ing to deal with each tree in detail, but dealing with no smaller unit 

 than a covert or forest compartment, that is to say, a mass of trees 

 covering several acres, and tolerably homogeneous in age, height, 

 distribution, and other respects. Thus the small proportion of 

 manual labour which the forest can as yet afford to utilise is made 

 to j)i'Oclu-ce the maximum of effect. The day may come when the 

 increased value of wood will permit of more labour being applied to 

 its production, and then, doubtless, pruning will gladly be more and 

 more resorted to, and its extensive application, with due care, skill, 

 and moderation, will give valuable assistance. At present, as before 

 remarked, it is only a large forest v/hich can have an independent and 

 self-supporting existence, and to judge of the appropriateness and 

 efficiency of a method of treatment it is necessary to see it in opera- 

 tion on a large scale. 



Can it then be assumed, without misgiving, that the forest can 

 at present afford so intense an apj^lication of labour and outlay as 

 is involved in a routine of artificial pruning in open coverts ; and 

 that open coverts will not deteriorate the soil ? 



KN. 



