Book II. 



NEGLECTED PLANTATIONS. 



587 



distance was only the double of six ; but the square of the latter is only thirty-six, while 

 that of the former is one hundred and forty-four, or four times the latter ; so that to bring 

 six feet distances to twelve, three trees must be removed for every one left." [FroJUable 

 Planter, 256 ^ and Forest Pruner, 21.) 



3722. Copse-woods are sometimes imjrroved by turning them into woods, which requires 

 nothing more than a judicious selection and reservation of 

 those shoots from the stools which are strongest, and which 

 spring more immediately from the collar. But a greater 

 improvement of copse- woods consists in cutting over the 

 overgrown and protuberant stools by the surface of the 

 soil {Jig. 458 o, b, c, d), which has been found by Mon- 

 teith completely to regenerate them. The operation is 

 performed with a saw, in a slanting direction, and the 

 young shoots being properly thinned and pruned, soon 

 establish themselves securely on the circumference of large 

 and perhaps rotten-hearted roots. {Forester s Guide, 60.) 



3723. Neglected hedge-row timber may be improved by pruning according to its age. 



Blakey recommends what he calls 

 fore-shortening, or cutting-in, as 

 the best method both for young 

 and old hedge-row timber. " This 

 operation is performed by short- 

 ening the over-luxuriant side- 

 branches {Jig. 459 a), but not to 

 cut them to a stump, as in snag- 

 pruning ; on the contrary, the ex- 

 tremity only of the branch should 

 be cut off, and the amputation 

 effected immediately above where 

 an auxiliary side-shootsprings from 

 the branch on which the operation 



is to be performed [b) ; this may be at the distance of two, four, or any other number 

 of feet from the stem of the tree; and suppose the auxiliary branch which is left (when 

 the top of the branch is cut off) is also over-luxuriant, or looks unsightly, it should also 

 be shortened at its sub-auxiliary branch, in the same manner as before described. The 

 branches of trees, pruned in this manner, are always kept within due bounds ; they do 

 not extend over the adjoining land to the injury of the occupier, at least not until the 

 stem of the tree rises to a height (out of the reach of pruning), when the top-branches 

 can do comparatively little injury to the land. By adopting this system of pruning, the 

 bad effects of close pruning on old trees, and snag-pruning on young ones, will be 

 avoided, the country will be ornamented, and the community at large, as well as indi- 

 viduals, benefited." 



Sect. VII. Of the Treatment of Injured and Diseased Trees. 



3724. Wiih respect to wounds, bruises, casualties, and defects of trees, such small wounds 

 as are required to be made by judicious pruning, easily heal up of themselves ; large 

 wounds, by amputation of branches above six inches diameter, should, if possible, never 

 be made. Even wounds of six inches diameter or under will heal quicker by the appli- 

 cation of any material that excludes the air and preserves the wood from corruption ; and 

 we agree with Sang in recommending coal-tar, or the liquor produced from coals in 

 manufacturing gas. It is, however, less favorable to the progress of the bark over the 

 wound than a coating of clay or cow-dung covered with moss to keep it moist. Pontey 

 recommends putty and two coats of paint over it. In case the wood, at a bruised or 

 amputated place, has by neglect become already corrupted, the rotten or dead wood is to 

 be pared out quite into the quick, and the wound is then to be dressed witli tar or clay^ 

 covered with a piece of mat, sacking, or moss. A wound, hollowed out as above, may 

 at first appear an unsightly blemish ; but, in subsequent years, nature will lay the 

 coats of wood under the new-formed bark thicker at that place ; and probably may, in 

 time, fill it up to be even with the general surface of the tree. 



3725. AW fractures, by whatever means produced, are to be managed as the circum- 

 stances of the case require. If a large branch be broken over at the middle of its lengthy 

 It should be sawn clear off close by the lateral which is nearest to the bole of the tree : 

 but, if there is no lateral, or branch, capable to carry forward the growth, cut the main or 

 fractured branch in quite to the bole. In both cases, treat the wound as above recom- 

 mended. 



