REPORT ON TREE-PRUNING. 33 



The chief factors in the situation in the Mali which demand 

 consideration in connection with the pruning are these : — 



{a) The trees are growing in rich soil. When planted they 

 were well cared for. I saw the planting of several 

 of them, and know, therefore, that the soil conditions 

 are such as to promote vigorous growth with all its 

 advantages and disadvantages. 

 {b) Planted as isolated specimens in line to form an avenue 

 the trees are individually exposed in this wide 

 thoroughfare to the full force of gusty, dust-laden 

 winds that sweep down it. 

 In my opinion, the discipline to which the trees have been 

 subjected in the circumstances of their growth has been 

 admirably adjusted to this environment : — 



1. The excess of lateral branches has been properly 



diminished, and the head of the tree has, therefore, 

 been adequately lightened in relation to wind currents, 

 so that risk of upset of the whole tree, and of 

 breaking of branches, has been lessened. 



2. There is practically no dead wood on the trees to 



interfere with the development of healthy branches, 

 or to serve as a seat of infection of disease. 



3. The branches which remain have been selected with 



judgment so as to form a right framework for the 

 future extension of the crown of the tree, and their 

 lateral extension has been checked judiciously so 

 that they have been stimulated to produce quantities 

 of well-placed, leafy shoots which, by their distribu- 

 tion, more than make up for the struggling, feeble 

 shoots lost by the removal of the surplus primary 

 lateral branches and the trimming of weak branchlets. 

 . No feature of the pruning struck me so forcibly as 

 this one. The checking of these laterals has been 

 most skilfully performed through careful continuous 

 tending of the trees ; there has been no vicarious 

 heroic lopping of the kind which frequently passes 

 for pruning. There is no mark of mutilation on the 

 branches ; the development of feathery twigs is 

 wonderfully perfect, and an ample leaf surface for 

 the work of the tree in water lifting, breathing, and 

 assimilation has been maintained. 



VOL. XXVI. PART I. C 



