On pruning Forest Trees. 27 



top end ; and the uprights moving on tliis bolt can at pleasure 

 be oj)eiied into a triangle, which makes the macliine perfectly 

 steady, and easily to be moved : by closing the iij)rights it 

 is conveniently stowed in the shed, and occupies but little 

 room. I am, ISir, &c. 



Matthias Saul. 

 Pomohgical Garden, near Tjancasler, Sept. 18. 1830. 



We have not the George the Fourth polyanthus, and 

 shall feel obliged to Mr. Saul lor the plant of" it which he 

 offers. — Cond. 



A FIT. VI. RemarJis on pruninff Forest Trees, in reply to Mr, Files 

 and others. By Mr. JonN Howden. 



Sir, 



I HAVE this moment read the letter of Mr. Elles ; I trust 

 he has not extinguislied my farthing rush-light, but only 

 snuffed it, to n)ake it burn tlie brighter. It is certainly the 

 duty of Mr. Elles, of myself, and of every practical man in 

 the line, to assist in making the Gardener's Magazine " a 

 burning and a shining light." I perfectly agree with Mr. 

 Elles respecting the physiology of plants ; but the propaga- 

 tion of strawberries, or the striking of pink pipings, has 

 nothing to do with timber trees. All depends on what 

 is ultimately wanted : if I wanted leaves from off the tea 

 tree, I should be sorry to cut off the branches ; or if I 

 wanted fruit from the currant bush, I should be sorry to 

 to permit its twigs to remain ; and if I wanted fine clean 

 timber, I should be sorry to see the trunk of the tree all over 

 branches or knots. A certain quantity of branches, twigs, 

 or leaves, is necessary for the growth of timber; but too 

 many are as bad as a man having a larger family than he 

 can maintain. It is true that some kinds of trees will not 

 bear pruning so well as others, just as there are some mothers 

 who would fret themselves to death for the loss of their off- 

 spring; whilst there are others who would do better without 

 them, for instance, the cow without her calf. 



But I am wandering from my subject, and, as Mr. Elles 

 will say, or Sir John Falstaff would say, I make such " un- 

 savoury similes." Oh ! by the by, Agronome is very proud 

 to think his name had a charm in it for Mr, Elles; while 

 John Howden is no less sorry to think his name is so dis- 

 gusting to him. Another gentleman has told me the same 

 thing ; but I tell them both that, however humble my name 

 may be, as Shakspeare says, " I'll make it greater ere I part 



