PRUNING. 157 



But, in preparing young trees for this pur- 

 pose, it becomes necessary to deviate from 

 the rules above stated, of shortening all 

 branches which seem to rival the stem, and 

 lopping none by the bole. All strong branches, 

 except those intended to be changed into 

 leaders, should be cut clean away ; ^s other- 

 wise, they might retard the progress of the 

 new leader, which, by its horizontal position, 

 cannot be supposed to draw nourishment so 

 effectually as if growing upright. Small 

 branches may be left, however, on the stem ; 

 as it is not probable they will push shoots to 

 injure the leader, in the manner the laterals 

 of shortened, stronger branches might. 



Here I speak of trees under thirty years 

 old ; and I hold it to be particularly injuri- 

 ous to lop branches by the bole from plants 

 of greater age. If wounds on the trunk 

 are not skinned over, and completely healed 

 while it is clean and smooth, they do not so 

 readily heal afterwards. This is peculiar to 

 the Oak, and other rough barked trees ; while 

 the Beech, and other smoother barked plants, 

 will bear to be pruned to the bole, with equal 

 propriety, at a greater age. 



