PEUNIXG. I I 3 



of opinion ; the rule seems to be, to keep the latter in 

 life till the heart- wood is fully formed with which the 

 branches are connected. The shedding of the branches 

 should never supersede the forming of the heart- wood 

 and cortication of the bark. The importance of 

 branches and their uses in developing a tree are too 

 well known to require any comment. 



One circumstance of considerable weight ought not 

 to be overlooked, namely, that larch in its native country 

 receives no such aid as the pruning-knife. If pruning, 

 therefore, were essential to health and development, 

 such trees as those at Dunkeld, Monymusk, Kippen- 

 ross, Monzie Castle, Minto House, &c., would un- 

 doubtedly have come far short of the perfection they 

 have attained. 



As soon as the lower branches lose their vitality, 

 they should be taken off with the pruning- saw, and 

 the ground cleared of them for the mutual benefit of 

 the trees and pasture. Dead branches cannot benefit 

 a tree in any way, unless it be by indirectly main- 

 taininfT moisture about the stem, and encourag^infr it 

 to clear itself of them, for the benefit of the timber. 



The larch, like the silver fir, is strongly disposed to 

 produce double tops, and these should be looked to 

 and pruned off wherever they appear. Many a larch 

 tree is rendered almost valueless for want of being 

 seasonably relieved of contending leaders. Every plan- 

 tation between five and ten years old should be care- 

 fully gone over, and all double and contending shoots 

 removed. They should also be gone over from time 



