1 60 /. /. Kotze 



branches of most of the cypresses are very persistent, even when 

 planted at very close espacements, and experience so far gained 

 in South Africa seems to indicate that in order to obtain good 

 quality timber some pruning will be necessary in their case. 



One form of pruning, however, is very necessary, and that is 

 in the case of trees forming two leading shoots or " leaders.' The 

 less vigorous leader should be removed as soon as detected. If 

 this be left undone a tree with a forked stem will result. Such a 

 tree is very apt to split at the fork, and it does not produce such 

 good timber as a single straight stem. It invariably also, owing 

 to its greater crown development, interferes with the growth of its 

 neighbours. 



On no account should the outside branches of the trees on the 

 margm of a wood be pruned as this operation would let in winds, 

 destructive both by their impetuosity and by their dessicating 

 effects. When pruning of side branches is done at all clean cut<\ 

 should be made flush with the stem so that the wounds may heal 

 over quickly, thereby lessening the danger of the entrance of 

 fungoid disease. 



4 Protection against Fire. 



Annually after the rainy season as wide a belt as possible 

 should be burned round the perimeter of the plantation. In car- 

 rying out this operation two parallel lines, 60 or more feet apart, 

 should be ploughed or scoffled, and all inflammable material in 

 the intervening strip burnt, as well as the veld to the outside of 

 the belt where this is possible. It is also important that any in- 

 flammable material under or near the edge trees be taken out and 

 burnt or else raked back for several yards inside the plantation. 



In addition to these external or perimeter fire traces internal 

 belts, either unplanted and kept clear of vegetation, or planted 

 with less inflammable species, e.g., belts of Eucalypts through 

 blocks of pines, should be maintained. Where pines are to be 

 grown in masses one or two rows of Eucalypts could be planted 

 in the middle of the clean belts in order that they may act as 

 spark arrestors. Litter should also be swept or raked up to a 



