60 PRUNING IN RELATION TO THE PRODUCTION OF TIMBER. 



lateral branches but one, for that branch having its terminal bud 

 left will unquestionably make the largest growth, and ultimately 

 form the leader ; if this plan was more freely adopted, there would 

 be fewer trees with large bushy heads and wide-spreading arms in 

 our plantations. In allowing pine woods to prune themselves, the 

 system is no doubt abused. The trees are overdrawn by excessive 

 crowding upon the ground ; and after the timber attains size, then 

 thinning is often too freely administered, so that the wind gets too 

 ready access ; and from the want of roots the trees are unable to 

 withstand severe storms, especially in exposed situations. Early 

 thinning, boldly, but systematically performed, when the planta- 

 tions are young, is the only way to establish a good sound crop of 

 timber, as well as timber of the largest dimensions, and conse- 

 quently the greatest value. 



Lord Buchan — You are still in favour of foreshortening; then 

 how would you prune those small dead branches in that fir wood — 

 would you saw them off or leave them as they are ? 



Forester — I would not advise sawing them off, because generally 

 a piece of the dead branch is often left within the bark, and as the 

 tree grows, it heals over it. I prefer breaking them off, for the 

 branches will then break within the outer bark, leaving no dead 

 wood to be enclosed. You thus assist nature in performing that 

 operation, and she has nothing to do but commence the healing 

 process. 



