205 



It will be observed, that this method is 

 calculated to grow the trees with a long 



elapse between the prunings, is highly objectionable. 

 For long observation has convinced me that taking a 

 Jarge quantity of branches from a fir at once, dis- 

 orders it so far as considerably to retard its growth, 

 even in shelter, and certainly, reducing such to two 

 tiers of branches would, in exposures, be completely 

 ruinous. The third tier from the top will certainly 

 do more in the way of shelter, and in attracting sap, 

 than the two higher ones, and therefore a tree or 

 plantation pruned to three tiers, might be said to be 

 in tolerable condition, while plants of tha same age, 

 docked to two, would be in a ruinous one. Generally, 

 however, I conceive four tiers to be preferable to 

 three, where shelter is little of an object, but where it 

 is much so, have no doubt of it. 



If a fir would grow as fast with two tiers only as a 

 greater number, it would be highly improper to defer 

 the pruning till they increased to six or seven, as di- 

 rected ; for even at Woburn, where the prunings from 

 young firs double the expence of the labour, a ton of 

 'poles is of much greater value than one of branches. 



It may be observed, from the Duke of Bedford's 

 certificate, annexed to the abovementioned paper, 

 that his Grace had previously entertained doubts of the 



