DIFFERENT METHODS OF PRUNING. 51 



carried out it is little better than close pruning. "We have seen 

 several instances where it was so much overdone, that the energies 

 of the trees were very much checked. When the branches are too 

 much curtailed at one operation, foreshortening becomes positively 

 detrimental to the health and growth of the tree at any age. 



The great art of foreshortening is to shorten only contending 

 leaders, and those side branches that are so strong as to detract 

 from the growth of the stem, to about one-fourth or one-half of 

 their length. In this manner, pruning only those trees that require 

 to be pruned, we go over the plantations every second or third year 

 till the trees have reached to about 30 feet high. When such a 

 system of management is adopted little close pruning is required, 

 as the nutritive energies are directed more to the extension and 

 formation of the main stem than to the growth of the lower side 

 branches. This appropriation of the greatest proportion of nutri- 

 ment by the main stem has a tendency to keep the side branches 

 slender ; and gradually as the tree increases in height, this, combined 

 with the influence of the nurses, causes these branches to become 

 less vigorous. When close pruning is necessary, it should be done 

 sparingly, taking care not to remove too many branches at one time ; 

 and before removing any, pay particular attention to the appearance of 

 the tree, to see that it is so abundantly supplied with healthy leaves 

 as to be able to spare one or two of the side branches without its 

 rate of growth being very much checked. And endeavour to make 

 sure that the wounds made on the stem by the removal of these 

 branches is not greater than the tree can heal the first, or at longest 

 the second, season. It is during the growing season that pruning 

 can be best performed, as the wounds are begun to be healed up 

 before winter sets in. 



Having given the above outline of the method of pruning, 

 we woidd only add that foreshortening is beyond all question the 

 most advantageous method to adopt wherever pruning is required. 

 And we would recommend every forester to test it for himself by 

 actual experiment, and communicate the result to the Scottish 

 Arbori cultural Society, and thus establish a uniform method of 

 pruning based on sound and definite principles. 



