BENEFITS OF PRUNING. 



241 



in the fig., has grown indirectly but not directly 

 from the acorn, and is probably a scion from an- 

 other tree, and that, again, probably also a scion 

 sprung from a scrubby, gnarled shrublet five hundred 

 years ago. The Capon-tree, though occupying much 

 more ground than the King of the Wood, is yet of little 

 or no commercial value, which timeous pruning might 

 have corrected, and probably made as valuable as its 

 neighbouring monarch. 



Fig. 9. The Capon-tree. 



The following are also cases where pruning is com- 

 mendable, and of very decided advantage. 



1. Where two or more contending shoots grow up 

 together, either starting from the neck of the tree or 

 from any point farther up on the stem, as is very 

 common in the silver fir, the larch, and cedars, in- 

 cluding the deodar, in all such cases we relieve the 

 tree of all except one to form the stem of the tree. 



2. Where, from accident or other cause, a tree loses 



Q 



