THE FRENCH SYSTEM OF PRUNING. 273 



" The head of the old tree should be gradually 

 rounded in outline ; the trunk may, in some cases, be 

 made to reach a height equal to half the height of 

 the tree, which has now probably ceased to grow 

 upwards. . 



" 4. Veterans. Trees classed as veterans have 

 generally ceased to increase in size. They gradually 

 become flat-headed and spread out, without, however, 

 greatly injuring the adjoining coppices and plantations 

 destined to take their places. 



" It is well to remember that the forms recom- 

 mended are those nature gives the most perfect and 

 most beautiful trees ; although it is the economic and 

 not the picturesque aspect of trees which is here under 

 consideration. 



"Sap-Lifters (fig. 13, p. 267). The name sap-lifter 

 (branche d'appel) may, for want of a better term, be given 

 to the branch or branches retained at the end of the 

 shortened main branch. The name indicates the object 

 for which such branches are left namely, to attract and 

 elaborate, by means of their leaves, a sufficient flow of 

 sap to ensure the growth of the branch. Sometimes 

 the main branches are so long that it is impossible for 

 the operator to reach the ends where the sap-lifting 

 branchlets should, of course, be left. In the case of the 

 oak, such branches, except for the appearance of the tree, 

 are of little importance ; and provided the main branch 

 retained is of a certain length (10 or 12 feet), and if 

 it is large and on a large healthy tree, a sufficient 

 number of new shoots to ensure vigorous growth will 

 soon appear. With the beech, however, and some 

 other trees which do not develop shoots from dormant 

 buds as freely as the oak, it is necessary to cut the 

 branch just above the forking of another branch or 



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