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CHAPTER III. 



HOW TO PRUNE. 



PRUNING trees which are simply grown as objects of 

 natural interest, or for the purpose of showing what 

 they would become if left alone to nature would, it is 

 needless to say, under such circumstances, not only 

 be superfluous, but would be lending its influence 

 to frustrate the object in view with all such pro- 

 ducts. Much, however, depends upon the scope of 

 the object in dealing with such trees ; for if planted 

 where they are such prominent and conspicuous ob- 

 jects as to meet the eye at every turn, undoubtedly, 

 whatever the demands of nature may be, taste will 

 assert its claim ; and when a dead branch, broken 

 limb, or distorted leader occurs, from whatever cause, 

 pruning must be done to satisfy taste at almost any 

 cost. The mechanical operations of pruning under 

 such circumstances must be guided entirely by taste, 

 for which there is no fixed law or rule, but in the 

 absence of which it should be observed that the 

 true display of art is always the strictest conceal- 

 ment of it. 



In cases where the trees are slender of stem, from 

 2 to 4 feet high or thereby, they require to be cut 

 over close to the ground with a forester's sharp prun- 



