PRUNING : ITS ORNAMENT AND UTILITY. 53 
In the process of foreshortening, care must be taken to do the 
work in accordance with the laws of nature. Thus, due notice 
ought to be taken of the angle which the branch makes with the 
stem, and likewise the curve which the branch takes. Some 
pruners believe in cutting out the terminal shoot of young 
branches. But nature will have her own way, the lateral branch 
growing in the same plane, and uniting with the stronger part, 
forms the same original curve. Others lay it down as a maxim 
that all branches ought to be trained by a pruning process to a 
horizontal shape. To do this universally is trying to change 
Nature. Suppose, for example, we are pruning a Lombardy poplar, 
would it not be absurd to attempt forming horizontal branches ? 
In order to prune or lighten trees as a prevention to their 
being blown over by gales, we ought not to mar their beauty. 
Due regard ought to be taken to balancing them by taking off 
strong side and top branches, or those within the centre which 
may produce the effect aimed at, without marring the beauty of 
the tree. Unless guided by the principle of “ better losing part 
than the whole,” we ought not to spoil Nature. 
Some maintain that pruning is always injurious to trees, and 
that while it is essential to the increase of marketable timber, 
it ought to be done cautiously and by degrees, believing that 
to cut “close in” to the stem injures the tree. Such practitioners 
either make their cuts about a foot from the stem, or they peel 
a ring of bark where the branch is finally intended to be cut. 
Each of these methods is equally bad. Instead of saving the 
tree, a little observation will show that they are injurious ; 
whereas close cutting is beneficial, When a branch is cut off 
at a part where no other branch remains, either young twigs 
spring up or the stump dies back to the bole of the tree. And 
if the dead stump is cut off at the expiration of a year, or at 
the earliest period procrastination will permit, the cut never heals. 
Thus, the decayed part absorbs moisture, and imparts disease to 
the tree. On the other hand, if a branch is cut “close in” at 
the proper season, healing commences soon after, and quickly and 
effectually completes itself. 
In order to facilitate healing, all wounds ought to be made 
perfectly smooth and even. If this be not attended to, protuber- 
ances will be formed on the stem. As a general rule branches 
swell a little at their union with the trunk, but it is prefer- 
able at times to cut a portion of the bulge so that the trunk 
