ON PRUNING TIMBER TREES, &.C. 249 



roots had attained a greater degree of strength, the siae of the 

 pots was enlarged, until some of the stronger varieties were 

 planted in the size No. 6, in which they arrived at the state in 

 which they were exhibited at the Society's garden in June., 1834. 

 During the time of growing, I keep them on a shelf, or trellis, in 

 front of the greenhouse, having upright lights about five feet high, 

 and I gave them plenty of air, carefully avoiding the least appli- 

 cation of heat, which would draw them up weak, cause the flow- 

 ers to be much smaller, and very much injure their colours. By 

 these means I have had them continue in bloom for full four 

 weeks.''— Read before London Horticultural Society. 



ARTICLE IV. 



ON PRUNING TIMBER TREES, &c. 



{Continued from page 240.) 



In natural forests the trees rise with very tall upright stems, 

 and are gradually divested of all their branches below to a vast 

 height. It is from natural forests accordingly that our finest, 

 tallest, and most valuable timber is derived. 



But in the artificial culture of wood we cannot imitate the na- 

 tural process, and allow the lateral branches to fall oft' by them- 

 selves. In the culture of wood we must admit the air to the trees, 

 by keeping them at a distance from each other : and under these 

 circumstances, the tree tends greatly to shoot out into branches, 

 and thus to produce a smaller growth of upright stems, as well 

 to have a smaller extent cleared of branches towards the base. 



In the cultivation of wood, then, we must generally resort to 

 artificial means to form the tree to what we wish it to possess. 

 We must then endeavour to promote the upright in place of the 

 lateral extension, and then to have a sufficient portion cleared 

 of lateral branches. 



Further, the later branches should be taken oft' at as early a 

 stage in the growth of the tree as is consistent with its health; 

 for it is to be observed, that when a branch shoots from a tree, 

 the twisting of the fibres begins at the point where the branch 

 had originated, and not, as from a cursory inspection might be 

 supposed, from the surface of the stem. 



Thus, In a following section of a portion of the stem, a lateral 

 branch 1m\ big first appeared onthe surface, continues to mcri 



