GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. 1 



it is the method which is faulty, and such objections 

 must disappear before more scientific and rational 

 treatment. 



A glance at Fig. 1 shows the effects of bad prun- 

 ing. Here the trunk of a Beech is represented 

 mutilated, and in a condition 

 which might well justify the 

 general condemnation of prun- 

 ing, if pruning was always fol- 

 lowed by such results. 



A system of forest manage- 

 ment which discards pruning 

 is disastrous, and, even if it 

 were less so, would have many 

 practical objections. A tree 

 left entirely to itself gener- 

 ally develops in one of two 

 directions. It does not grow 

 upwards and assumes the low- 

 round form common to the 

 apple-tree ; the lower branches 



Fig. 1. Badly pruned Beech ; 



grow disproportionately large * trunk covered with cavities of 



different depths and partly filled 



and absorb too much sap, with water. 

 to the detriment of the top of the tree ; and these 

 long, heavy branches are often broken by the wind 

 or by snow and ice, leaving hideous stumps (Fig. 2). 

 Trees of this form are very common ; they gen- 

 erally decay at the .top before reaching maturity, 

 and have little commercial value. On the other 

 hand, many vigorous trees grow disproportionately 



