INTRODUCTION. 211 



one man has learned the art and practice of pruning, 

 but never studied science, while the other has learned 

 the science, but neglected the art and practice. When, 

 therefore, a choice must be made between a practical 

 unscientific man and a scientific unpractised one, I 

 would unhesitatingly prefer the former. 



The question is frequently asked, Do you approve or 

 disapprove of pruning ? The question thus put is un- 

 fair, and would therefore elicit an unfair answer. Prin- 

 ciples for pruning may be laid down, but rules cannot 

 be given without incurring the risk of doing more harm 

 than good. That certain operations of pruning can be 

 done with good effect there ought to be no doubt or 

 hesitation ; but that much mischievous and injurious 

 pruning is done daily is equally certain, and to be 

 lamented. It gladdens the eye and rejoices the heart 

 of every good forester to see right and proper pruning 

 done, and it correspondingly distresses him to see 

 what he is doomed to witness daily in the malpractice 

 of the art. Cutting off a branch is a very simple 

 and unimportant act in itself, but it may be a grand 

 and successful stroke, or a deadly and disastrous one. 



The leading principle to be observed is never to 

 cut off a branch from a tree unless absolutely neces- 

 sary, necessary in a sense akin to that of amputat- 

 ing of a limb from the human body. 



Like many others, we pruned much at an early 

 period of our practice, and having had over a quarter 

 of a century's experience of it, we are now induced to 

 prune comparatively little. 



To the question as to whether coniferae should be 

 pruned we answer, Yes, if they require it, and it is 

 well done. Certain species, particularly those of the 

 fir, larch, and pine tribes, when grown in masses to- 



