122 HEDGE-ROW TIMBER. 



while, on the other hand, from those which are 

 standing, whatever length of time they may 

 remain, nothing can be expected, hut a small 

 quantity of timber, and that of middling quality. 

 But to return to pruning. In a Wood, or a Plan- 

 tation, trees will draw up each other to a certain 

 length, and many of the lateral branches, from the 

 exclusion of light and air, will die, and some of 

 them will fall off ; this is, of course, natural prun- 

 ing : but in a Hedge-row, they have no such help, 

 they wDl, therefore, require artificial pruning ; 

 which should commence at the time of planting, 

 and continue until it can be seen that they will 

 assuredly acquire ample length of bole. The kind 

 of pruning which is here advocated cannot possibly 

 do any harm, if it be well done, and done at a 

 proper season. The soundness of an Oak will in 

 no degree he impaired by it ; and consequently, it 

 will be, on all accounts, more serviceable for naval 

 purposes, than if it were not pruned ; for it will 

 not surely be contended, that clearness of grain, 

 and length of stem, are not likely to recommed it to 

 the ship-builder. So far from having a doubt upon 



