DIFFERENT METHODS OF PKUNING. 43 



tax on the energies of the tree, which have already been consider- 

 ably impaired by the removal of so many of the leaves. 



The system of foreshortening has many advantages over close 

 pruning : — 



Id, The growing energies of the tree are not weakened to any 

 great extent. When foreshortening is judiciously performed, there 

 is so little of the branch removed that the loss is scarcely ever felt 

 by the tree. 



2d, It prevents a waste of energy, and keeps the branches from 

 diverting too much of the nutritive food from the stem. When a 

 judicious method of foreshortening is carried on Avith due caution 

 and discrimination, and in a timely and progressive manner, it pre- 

 vents rival leaders and strong side branches from increasing 

 their own strength, so as to detract from the growth of the stem ; 

 and it also keeps the tree to one leading shoot (or top), and that 

 shoot in supremacy of all the others ; and thus the main stem is 

 enabled to appropriate the greatest proportion of the nutritive food 

 for its own increase. Another aspect in which this system has con- 

 siderable advantages over severe close pruning, is in the rearing of trees 

 for the combined purposes of ornament and profit. The trees can 

 be reared under this system with a natural and shapely though not 

 formal appearance (unless it be desired). Close pruning clears the 

 stem, but it makes the tree bare and unsightly, and does nothing 

 to check the growth of rival leaders, or to prevent the tree from 

 being dismembered by heavy, ill-placed branches breaking off during 

 a storm. 



In order to prove the suitableness of foreshortening for this pur- 

 pose as compared with close pruning, we may report the following 

 as an example : — Some years ago a gentleman asked us to inspect the 

 plantations on his estate, and report our opinion regarding them. 

 We found that he was specially anxious about the condition of an 

 ornamental plantation through which the principal drive to his 

 mansion-house passed. This plantation was composed of oaks, elms, 

 limes, and horse-chestnuts, with firs for nurses, — except at the sides 

 of the drive, where, as the proprietor was anxious to form an avenue 

 of lime trees, the ground had been planted with these trees from 9 

 to 12 feet apart, without any nurses. These trees were about 14 

 years planted, of a branchy habit and a vigorous growth ; most of 

 them had several contending tops. A year previous to our visit, 

 the forester was instructed to prune these trees for the first time. 

 This man understood no other method but close pruning. Accord- 



