218 PRUNING. 



plantations are totally different from those of the 

 dense primeval forests whence our important supplies 

 of timber come. " The great density of growth and 

 the larger degree of humidity that obtains in the 

 natural forest, leading to more rapid decomposition of 

 dead organisms, and the constant play and movement 

 of animal life, all tend to clear away the dead branches 

 before they are absorbed to any injurious extent in the 

 increasing growth of the stem." In any case the ad- 

 vantage of removing the dead branches from the stems 

 of trees in our plantations is so self-evident, that it is 

 idle to dwell on the subject at length. 



When a limb has lost its functions it can be of no 

 further use to the tree, therefore it should be re- 

 moved. 



The health of the tree is certain to be impaired, and 

 the quality of the timber depreciated, by leaving dead 

 branches to become absorbed by every increasing ring 

 of wood added to the girth of the stem. 



