250 PRUNING. 



The foregoing remarks, while admittedly a digres- 

 sion from the real subject of pruning, may be excused 

 on the ground of their relationship to it, or at least on 

 account of their showing the importance of sap-vessels, 

 and how they act and react upon each other, without 

 a knowledge of which no system of pruning can ever 

 be made intelligible and satisfactory. A forester's 

 knowledge of the growth of a tree, and how it is pro- 

 duced, is probably better shown by the manner in 

 which he executes pruning than by anything else. 



That the roots supply the tree with nourishment is 

 no more certain than that the tree supplies the roots 

 with the power and means of doing so ; for there is 

 no more certain means of arresting root-supply than by 

 denuding a tree of its branches and leaves. The de- 

 privation of its leaves not only prevents the tree from 

 forming and maturing its wood, but will very soon 

 deprive it of vitality altogether. In the year 1865 

 the caterpillar attacked the natural birch woods in 

 Strathspey, and rendered them in many cases leafless, 

 the result of which was that many trees died. It is 

 the branches situated upon the lower part of the stem, 

 too, that principally nourish the roots, and when these, 

 in the act of pruning, are taken away, the baneful 

 consequences may be readily apprehended. Clearing 

 the stem of all branches, great and small, is done in 

 order to form a beautiful, clean, cylindrical trunk ; but 

 however laudable that object is, its attainment must 

 not be secured in that way ; indeed, the very means 

 employed are just such as to frustrate the object in view. 

 No one is more enraptured with a splendid trunk than 

 I am, and every forester should aim at such an attain- 

 ment ; but while he is so aiming, it is absolutely 

 necessary that the means adapted to that end be the 



