DIFFERENT METHODS OF PRUNING. 4:0 



appearance without causing any visible check to their growth. 

 It was very different with a part of this same plantation that had 

 been close pruned the previous year. The trees that were thus 

 operated on received such a severe check to their growth that they 

 made little progress, and for some years had such a stunted, 

 unsightly appearance, that it was thought most profitable to cut 

 them down; the situation being a little exposed, there was small 

 chance of their ever becoming healthy, good-looking trees. The 

 original object of the proprietor in planting was chiefly ornament 

 and shelter. The acorns from which these trees were raised he 

 had gathered with his own hands in another country, and all along 

 he had been interested in their progress ; but in the case of those 

 that were close pruned, his object was utterly frustrated. 



Another example, almost parallel to the above, came under our 

 observation four years afterwards. In this case the close pruning had 

 been performed under the supervision of two foresters. The plantation 

 consisted chiefly of oaks twenty years planted, and the most thriving 

 part had been operated on by jNo. 1 forester in a most barbarous 

 manner. The branches had been chopped off with a light axe, and 

 the bark on the stem had been much slashed by the axe after it had 

 passed through the branch. In fact, a more ruthless case of close 

 pruning never came under our observation — what with a little caution 

 might have been fine oaks, were actually left with only three side 

 branches, and some but two. This severe treatment had been per- 

 formed three years previous to the time when we saw them, and they 

 had not during that time made much progress, except the growth of 

 some dwarfish spray on the bare stems. No. 2 forester came, and 

 two years afterwards pruned another portion of this same plan- 

 tation. His system was a little more refined when clearing the 

 stem. Any very strong upright growing branch that came in his 

 way he did not cut off, but cleared off the branchlets from it to the 

 same height as he did on the main stem, namely, about three-fourths 

 of the stem bared. It is almost needless to say that this method 

 also reduced the vital energies of the tree, and checked its rate of 

 growth to a great extent. These portions, after being left for seven 

 and five years respectively, and making but little progress, were cut 

 down, and the bark peeled and cured ; but we found many of the 

 trees so deficient in circulating sap, that it was impossible to get the 

 bark profitably taken off. Altogether it was a bad quality of bark. 

 The exterior was rough; and, though carefully dried, the inner bark 

 contained but little astringent matter. 



