SOFT WOODS. 63 



poses. The large branches of trees of this family are 

 very brittle, and are easily broken by wind or ice, and 

 should be shortened in the manner already explained 

 for hard-wood trees. 



Conifers. These trees, which are generally grega- 

 rious and form extensive forests, are valuable subjects 

 for Sylviculture, on account of the readiness with 

 which they reproduce themselves from seed, and be- 

 cause they admirably prepare the soil to produce hard 

 woods and especially the Oak. Of the two operations 

 of pruning the cutting close to the trunk, and the 

 shortening of branches the second need not often 

 be applied to the natural pyramidal form of Firs and 

 Spruces : for these trees nothing is necessary beyond 

 removing, when possible, dead or dying branches. 



The Pines, however, when not growing under the 

 conditions peculiar to them, that is crowded together, 

 often develop enormous branches, which greatly in- 

 terfere with the beauty and the value of the trunk, 

 the only portion of the tree possessed of any value. 

 The rules laid down for shortening the branches of 

 Oaks and other deciduous trees are, in case of neces- 

 sity, applicable to Pines ; that is, one third or one half 

 of the length of the branches may be safely cut away. 

 It is essential, however, to preserve at the end of the 

 shortened branches an abundant supply of foliage as 

 the branch of a coniferous tree deprived of leaves is 

 more certain to perish than the branch of a deciduous 

 tree under similar circumstances. A Pine may in this 

 way be made to assume the natural form it would have 



