On pruning Forest Trees. 305 



limber which has been exposed to the air for several months, 

 and that which is subsequently formed over it. 



Forest pruning is generally performed in winter ; all wood 

 work (except oak felling and peeling) is done in that season, 

 chiefly because the leaves are off, and the growth has stopped. 

 It is necessary to observe, however, that pruning performed 

 in the beginning of summer would be a better practice for the 

 good of the trees. The reason is, because wounds made in 

 winter do not begin to heal till after the summer growth takes 

 place. That principle of the tree which is alone capable of 

 closing a wound is dormant in winter, and the wound made 

 in that season is too long unprotected ; whereas, if branches 

 are cut off when the vital principle is every hour extending 

 itself, the incision is sooner closed, and, if not very large, it is 

 completely covered before the growth ceases in the autumn. 

 It should be a rule with the pruner never to make a wound 

 that cannot be healed in the course of six months : but he can 

 only attend to this by a timely application of the knife or 

 chisel. A handsaw * should never be used in pruning forest 

 trees ; because, if the irregular branch be so large as to re- 

 quire this tool, it had better remain where it is ; and because, 

 though it may injure the columnar form of the bole externally, 

 and the regularity of the grain internally, the place where 

 it joins the main body will always be found sound, which it 

 would not be if cut off. Very tall handsome boles may be 

 formed by the assistance of long ladders, handsaws, and 

 jack-planes ; but, though these large and carefully polished 

 scars will be in a few years covered with healthy wood and 

 bark, the marks of the tools will always remain a defect in 

 the timber when it comes to the saw-pit. 



These circumstances show decidedly the necessity of early 

 pruning, as well to secure quality, as desirable forms of tim- 

 ber ; for though all trees have a specific character of growth, 

 with a more or less branched head, which they naturally 

 assume when at liberty so to do, yet they submit to the hand 

 of skill ; and many trees of bush-headed character may be 

 trained into a light aspiring shape, and well proportioned 

 length of bole. 



To take care that every tree has a principal leader is a 

 material object of early culture, and to maintain its superiority 

 in after growth, a chief point to be attended to. All laterals 

 that show a rivalry, so as to divide or deform the axis, should 

 be displaced. Very small branches, or spray, need not be 



* A stout turning or keyhole saw may be used for small branches, as 

 being more convenient than either knife or chisel. 



Vol. VIII. — No. 38. x 



