ITS AIMS AND METHODS. 17 



CHAPTER II. 



GOOD PRUNING. ITS AIMS AND METHODS. DIVI- 

 SION BY AGE OF RESERVE TREES INTO FOUR 

 CLASSES. 



Aim and Method of Pruning. The object of pruning, 

 economically considered, is to make it possible to 

 raise on a given surface, say on one hundred acres 

 of sprout land, the greatest number of full-grown 

 trees, and to make them attain the greatest value 

 in the shortest time without injury to the young 

 trees beneath them. This may be accomplished by 

 increasing the vigor of the reserve trees and by 

 lengthening, without diminishing in diameter, their 

 trunks. Treated in this manner the reserve trees 

 do not interfere with the circulation of air and light 

 necessary to the development of the undergrowth ; 

 and many serious accidents caused to trees by wind, 

 frost, and snow breaking the larger branches may be 

 avoided by keeping their heads symmetrical and up- 

 right. 



The perfect forest tree has a straight, single trunk 

 without protuberances or wounds, and carrying up 

 the same diameter to the first branches, which should 



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