2134 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 



exception to other orders of trees with respect to culture. They maj' require 

 culture of a different kind, but, if they are to be subjected to man, they must 

 be pruned, and otherwise treated, so as to fit them for his purposes in the 

 most complete manner, and in the shortest possible time ; unless it can be 

 shown that, in an artificial state, they will become fit for these purposes in 

 a sufficiently short time, without pruning, or any other kind of culture. 

 M. Loiseleur Deslongchamps and M. Bosc affirm that the ^bietinae have 

 more need of numerous branches than the broad-leaved trees ; because, say 

 they, the pines absorb from the atmosphere as much nourishment by their 

 leaves, as they draw from the soil by their roots. These authors recommend 

 pines and firs to be left wholly without pruning for the first eight or ten years ; 

 that at that time the lowest tier of branches may be cut off; and that after- 

 wards a tier may be cut off annually, till the trunk is cleared to the height of 

 6 ft. or 7 ft. ; after which they should be left entirely to nature. We cannot, 

 however, counsel leaving them entirely to nature, even after this period ; 

 because, in that case, when the branches began to decay and drop off, the 

 stumps which remain would become buried in the wood, and would greatly 

 diminish its value. M. Hartig is in favour of pruning the ^bietinse ; but M. 

 Burgsdorf is of a contrary opinion. According to M. Delamarre, the ma- 

 jority of French authors recommend pruning and thinning; and the practice 

 in the department of the Maine, where his estate lay, is to cut off the 

 branches at 2 in. or 3 in. from the trunk, in order to leave some small shoots 

 and leaves to draw up the sap. In Champagne, he says, 6 in. are left at 

 first; and, in a year or two afterwards, these are cut off' close to the trunk. 

 Delamarre adds that 2 in. is the preferable distance; and a stump of this 

 length, he says, will, in three or four years, be buried in the trunk of the tree. 

 In Britain, and also in most parts of Germany, close pruning has the decided 

 preference. The advantage of early and close pruning, in the case of the 

 pine and fir tribe, was pointed out by Mr. Salmon, in the Transactions of 

 the Society of Arts, about the beginning of the present century ; and afterwards 

 strongly recommended by Mr. Pontey, in his Forest Pruncr, and practised by 

 him in various places where he had the management of the plantations. It 

 is generally considered, however, that Mr. Salmon and Mr. Pontey carried 

 the practice of close pruning too far. Mr. Main, who has paid great attention 

 to the subject of pruning, states it as his opinion, that all the pine and fir 

 tribe intended for profit should be planted to grow up, and be " all cut down 

 together, like a crop of corn." Mr. Salmon, on the other hand, gives the 

 following directions, founded, as he says, on several years' observation and 

 experience : — The pruning should commence when the trees are six years old, 

 or, in other words, when five distinct tiers of branches appear on the stem. 

 The lowest of these tiers are to be taken off, leaving four remaining. After 

 which, at every succeeding four or five years, the pruning is to be repeated, 

 till the stem of the tree be cleared to the height of 40 ft. ; after which the tree 

 may be left to nature. The best practice seems to lie between Mr. Main's 

 opinion and that of Mr. Salmon ; and we should think that if small poles and 

 masts were the object, Mr. Main's plan would be the best; but for large 

 beams, planks, and deals, Mr. Salmon's. We shall hereafter have occasion 

 to enlarge on the subject, when treating on the pruning of particular species, 

 and more especially of Pinus sylvestris. In exposed situations, Mr. Nuttall 

 has found that the ^bietina2 are much invigorated at the root by pinching 

 out the points of the side shoots, and even of the leading shoot ; which 

 causes the plants to increase in diameter at the base, and to become furnished 

 with roots, larger and more vigorous, in proportion to the elevation of the 

 stem, than would otherwise be the case, which consequently enables them 

 the better to withstand the force of high winds. Plants so treated soon 

 recover their leading shoots; or, if they send up more than one, the super- 

 fluous ones can be removed. The details of Mr. Nuttall's practice will be 

 found in the Gardener's Magazine, vol. xiii. p. 350. The best season for 

 pruning the j^bietinae is in mild weather in early spring, or in the autumn. 



