CHAP. CXIII. CONTFEK^. LA RIX. 2381 



or centre of the trunk, and the origin of a branch ; b the part which was the 

 outside of the tree when the branch died, and likewise some remains of the 

 woody part of the branch. The dark space from c to c is the cavity made in 

 the wood by enclosing the branch with the bark upon it, after it was dead ; 

 " part of the bark still remaining in it, as the saw has accidentally gone ex- 

 actly in the line between that and the wood. If we count the annual circles 

 of the wood, or curved lines, we find it remained in that state at least 32 years 

 upon the tree ; but how much longer we cannot say, as the wood has not all 

 the sap wood left upon it. It must have been sound all the time, otherwise the 

 pressure of the wood, in enclosing, would have displaced it ; and, from its 

 size, it could not be otherwise than mostly of sap wood. It is also worthy 

 of remark, that the board is from the root end of the tree ; the situation of 

 the branch having evidently been within 1 ft. of the ground, and, of course, 

 more exposed to moisture than one more elevated." (Forest Pnuur, p. 72.) 



In the Highland Society^ s Transactions, vol. xii. p. 141., published in December, 

 18.37, is a digest of five essays on the pruning of forest trees, sent to the 

 Society by well-known practical writers. On the pruning of the Coniferae 

 generally, these writers seem to differ considerably in opinion ; the majority 

 appearing to think as we do, that no branch ought to be cut off till it begins to 

 show indications of decay. On the subject of the larch, Mr. Grigor of Forres, 

 a communication from whom has already been given, p. 2181., has the fol- 

 lowing observations : — 



" The larch may be pruned with advantage at the time it sheds its leaves. 

 As it naturally advances in a fine figure, pruning is unnecessary until it attains 

 a height of from 10 ft. to 14 ft. The strongest of the lateral branches should 

 then be regularly lopped off, about 2 ft. from the stem, with a pruning knife or 

 bill. In two years after, these should be removed close to the stem, and 

 those farthest advanced in size among the upper branches should be shortened 

 as above described, it not being safe to allow those most vigorous to be at 

 once cut off close by the trunk. In this manner the tiers should begone over 

 every two years. The healthiest larches produce cones sparingly. Nothing 

 marks the little progress of growth more than a great crop of seed ; and when 

 once the growth is impeded by such, the tree connnonly continues to yield 

 abundantly. In such cases, pruning is particularly advantageous. In exposed 

 places the tree should not be wholly cleared of branches to a certain height. 

 The weakest should be allowed to remain, which serves to keep the tree more 

 steady in rough weather" {Highland Soc. Trans., xii. p. 1G2.). Mr. Gorrie, 

 speaking of the pine and fir tribe generally, says that pruning may be ventured 

 on in open situations, where length and soundness of stem are required ; but 

 that no branch intended to be pruned off, for the purpose of producing a clear 

 stem, should be allowed to exceed f in. in diameter. Mr. Gorrie adds this 

 important remark : " When trees of the pine and fir tribe that have been thus 

 attended to in their growth are sawn into deal, the wounds have decayed and 

 present a fresh and compressed bird's-eye-like appearance." (Ibid.) 



Bending and kneeing the Larch for Ship Timber. This practice has been ur- 

 gently recommended by Mr. Matthew ; who says that, in all larch plantations 

 on proper soil, not too far advanced, a proportion of the trees intended to 

 remain as standards should be bent. The operation, he says, should be 

 commenced when the plants are 3 ft. high, or upv/ards. The plants, the first 

 season, should be bent to an angle of from 40" to 60° with the horizon ; and 

 the next brought down from 10° to 6°, or lower, according to the size of the 

 plant, or the curve required. The same practice of bending the larch, and for 

 the same objects, has been recommended by Billington, ourselves, and various 

 others. Billington recommends tying the trees to one another, or to stakes 

 driven firmly into the ground ; and South, in the Bath Society'' s Transactions, 

 Monteath, Pontey, &c., recommend bending by the proximity of other larger 

 trees with spreading heads, which are to be afterwards cut away. For example 

 under the spreading branches of an elm, willow, or poplar, of ten or twelve 

 years' growth, plant four or five larches at equal distances from one another, 



