94 PLANTING 



are ideal, if the trees are planted at the correct distance apart ; 

 and, when mixtures are made, the same ideal should be aimed 

 at ; that is to say, the height growth and the persistency of 

 the side branches should, as nearly as possible, be identical ; 

 thus admitting of the growth of perfectly clean timber, 

 pruned only by natural agencies. 



Larch and Ash will generally prune each other nicely, 

 but they will not affect the pruning of side branches on any 

 other trees to any appreciable extent ; and any other trees 

 growing next to them in an even-aged mixture, will be of an 

 inferior quality, unless artificially pruned. 



As regards other deciduous trees : They will prune each 

 other fairly well, provided their relative height growth be 

 similar. 



The Pines will prune each other nicely, and so will the 

 shade-bearing conifers, provided, in both cases, the relative 

 height growth be similar ; but, as regards the latter, there is 

 usually a great difference in the height growth. 



And again, it may be stated as a general rule, that no 

 deciduous trees will properly prune the evergreen conifers, 

 even though the height growth be similar. 



It must be remembered, that the real efficiency of natural 

 pruning is due to the fact that side branches are not allowed 

 to develop. It is quite a fallacy to suppose that well-pruned 

 trees can be grown, if large side branches have once developed, 

 unless, indeed, artificial pruning be resorted to. It is impossible 

 to prune their branches off naturally by means of some 

 vigorous growing tree. For instance, any idea that badly 

 grown Oak can be "pruned up with Beech" is quite 

 fallacious. 



This question of the pruning of side branches is of far 

 greater importance in woods artificially planted, at a distance 

 of 3 or 4 feet apart, than it is in the case of woods raised 

 naturally from seed. 



In the latter case, the trees are crowded from infancy, 

 and the development of side branches is always suppressed. 



But, in artificial woods, the development of side branches 

 is encouraged to start with ; for they grow for years, until 



