1 6 The yotcrnal of Forestry. 



But Avliile by the judicious, liglit, summer pruning of young planta- 

 tions an amount of benefit is secured for the phmts in the vicinity of 

 strono'-growing and extravagant individuals, there is at the same time 

 by the process much advantage conferred upon those trees themselves. 

 For example, if a strong-growing sapling or young tree be not of a 

 robust tapering stem, in summer when it shoots much, the weight of 

 the abundant foliage in the head will bend the trunk, and induce a 

 crooked bole, by the inclination of the head to one side or 

 another, according to the quarter of the prevailing winds in the 

 district ; and in such an instance, by carefully removing some of 

 the branches from the leaning side, and foreshortening others as may 

 be requisite, the tree is enabled to regain a straight habit of growtli, 

 and what would in a few years have become an eyesore and value- 

 less plant is converted into a promising timber-producing tree. In 

 thus trimming and lightening the heads of over-luxuriant growers, and 

 also in stopping the propensity to lateral growths in strong side 

 branches, it should be borne in mind that in cutting off side shoots, 

 say of less than an inch in diameter, from the stem, so as to throw as 

 much vigour as possible into the leading terminal and its adjoining 

 branches, it is advisable to do so alternately round the trunk 

 or branch operated on, — that is to say, to endeavour not to leave 

 one branch from the trunk or main stem of the branch right opposite 

 another, for that will tend to induce a too sudden growth or thick- 

 ness in the tree at that particular part ; but they should be removed 

 alternately, so that those remaining may appear one above another 

 spirally round the young bole ; in this way a more tapering 

 habit in hardwood young plantation trees is induced, which ulti- 

 mately tends to a larger capability of carrying an amount of valuable 

 tall timber upon a given area of ground. 



Another advantage secured by skilfully handling young plantations 

 in the manner indicated is the freer admission of light to every plant, 

 and the better circulation of air round each tree in the plantation. 

 Thus the young wood is assisted in its annual ripening, and in the 

 case of the coniferous family, individual specimens of rather tender 

 habit are better and more quickly acclimatised, by the young shoots 

 being thereby enabled to withstand with some degree of impunity 

 the treacherous winds and sunny days of the later spring months ; 

 and by these means many a leader is saved which would otherwise 

 have perished, and the growth of the tree upwards have been retarded. 



Another advantage to be gained by the summer pruning of young 

 trees is that when so treated they are not so liable to throw out 

 around the wound a numerous crop of small twigs, which is a most unde- 

 sirable habit, and one whicli is almost invariably the sequel to the 

 cutting off, during the season of rest, of a heavy limb from hard- 



