164 THE PRACTICAL PLANTER- 



SECTION IX. 



On Thinning. 



THIS subject is of equal importance with 

 that of the preceding Section. Pruning and 

 Thinning should go hand in hand ; and if 

 the latter be judiciously performed, the 

 former will be rendered the less necessary. 



Thinning, however, is liable to restric- 

 tions, according to local circumstances, the 

 situation of neighbouring plants, their va- 

 lue, and the value of the plants to be thin- 

 ned out. This value may be considered in 

 a twofold sense, as useful timber; as nurses. 



But in Thinning, the consideration which 

 should, in all cases, predominate, is, to cut 

 for the good of the timber to be left, re- 

 gardless of the value of the thinnings. For, 

 unless for the purpose of filling up vacan- 

 cies, if we have it in our choice to leave a 

 good, and take away a bad plant, or kind ; 



