192 STATE OF ARBORICULTURE IN NORTH LANCASHIRE. 
been neglected, the utmost care and caution ought to be exercised. 
The great art of thinning is to do it in a gradual way, so that, as 
the trees increase in height, they may, just in proportion to their 
growth, get plenty of space for their healthy development. An 
important part of thinning here is clearing out the underwood, 
which can always be profitably disposed of, especially if it consists 
of ash or hazel. It can be cut with most advantage from eight to 
twelve years’ growth. The thinnings of alder, for which there is a 
good demand, can always be profitably disposed of for bobbins and 
clog-making purposes. 
Pruning.—This is a branch of forestry that one does not often 
see practised in this county, and in many instances, when the opera- 
tion is performed, it would to my mind have been better let alone. 
A case of pruning a young mixed hardwood plantation (about 
twenty years planted) came under my observation last spring. In 
giving the plantation a partial thinning, all strong branches growing 
on the stems of the trees left standing were ruthlessly knocked 
off with the axe by the workmen in the course of cutting the 
trees marked. The pruning was done from 8 up to 10 feet high. 
This system was practised by a man who has had charge of woods 
upon a large estate upwards of forty years. One also observes here 
and there attempts to prune hedge-row trees, and often the trees are 
more disfigured than benefited by the operation. 
Hedge-row Tiees.—Generally speaking, the hedge-row trees of 
this county are not well grown, although they form a very promi- 
nent feature in the landscape of the country. In many instances I 
find the trees unsuited to the position in which they are planted. 
Many of them are miserable abortions, unprofitable to the proprietor, 
and a nuisance to the farmer, more especially in tillage districts, 
where the farmers have to continually wage war against them. The 
trees best suited for hedge-rows ought to be of an upright habit of 
growth, such as the English elm, sycamore, oak, lime, sweet chest- 
nut, etc., and, when managed with skill and taste, in the way of 
planting and pruning, they have a most important influence on both 
stock and crops, and add immensely to the beauty of the landscape. 
In no case should the ash be planted as a hedge-row tree, but 
here we find it in quite common use. 
Cutting Down and Disposing of Timber.—When a quantity of 
timber is sold standing, as practised on some estates, the felling is 
generally done by the purchaser’s men. This is a system that I do 
not approve of, as contract men are never so careful in saving the 
