PRUNING. 161 



is presumed, the reader may pretty clearly 

 comprehend the subject of Pruning. Of 

 the above, and all other deciduous forest- 

 trees, suffice it to say, they are to he trained 

 according to the purpose for which they 

 may be intended ; whether for ship- timber, 

 for the purpose of husbandry, manufactures, 

 or for underwood. 



bthly. THE LARCH. This tree, in few 

 instances, requires Pruning. Like all the 

 resinous tribe, its tendency is upwards ; 

 but it differs from others in this particular : 

 that if the leader, from accident, be broken 

 or maimed, it will push a fresh one, even at 

 a great age. 



It frequently pushes twin leaders, and in 

 this case, the best is to be retained, and the 

 other destroyed, not by removing, but by 

 shortening it near to the extremity. The 

 stem thus singled, will grow vigorously, and 

 the shortened twin will soon assume the ap- 

 pearance of a side bough. 



It will also sometimes happen, that when 

 a tree loses its leader by accident, one 

 branch will assume, and perhaps two will 

 strive for the ascendancy. In this case, 



