EVIL EFFECTS OF PRUNING. 257 



on the bark here and there, which in due time produce 

 buds; these again form small twigs, and ultimately 

 branches and limbs. It is from this new set of twigs 

 and branches that the stem-growth begins to increase 

 from no other source, and from no other cause. 

 Now, if we thoroughly understand this principle of 

 physiology, it will help us greatly in regard to prun- 

 ing, and keep us out of many errors commonly fallen 

 into. The result of pruning is to create rather than 

 develop : to form a new series of growths rather than 

 increase and extend the old ones. When any branch 

 is cut off, the result is that an embryo bud in its 

 neighbourhood is formed, which develops into a new 

 and distinct branch, and starts growth, as it were, on 

 a new basis, rather than by contributing to the growth 

 of the branch from which it takes its origin. We saw 

 the other day an example of this in a sycamore shoot 

 of underwood, of about 1 J inch in diameter, from which 

 a branch had been lopped off in the ordinary work of 

 heading back game covert. At the cut part a young 

 shoot had started, and at four years' growth had be- 

 come considerably thicker than the original stem of 

 ten or twelve years' growth, from which it emanated. 



Another but fertile object in pruning is to reduce the 

 size of the top of the tree, and change its form, so as to 

 bring it into harmony and proportion with the size of 

 the stem or trunk. In order to this attainment certain 

 branches have to be cut off, or pruned more or less, as 

 the subject suggests. The result of this operation in 

 the case of a healthy tree is, that instead of diminish- 

 ing the quantity of branches as intended, and also of 

 reducing the size of the top and improving its form, 

 the very opposite results are produced ; for instead of 

 the presence of one branch, which was pruned off, sev- 



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