THE FRENCH SYSTEM OF PRUNING. 277 



space of a few feet, no less than seven wounds, 10 to 

 20 inches wide, in addition to many others of smaller 

 size. In spite of this heroic treatment the tree im- 

 proved remarkably in health and vigour; and the 

 numerous wounds made on the trunk by the amputa- 

 tion of dead branches entirely healed over." This is 

 pure fiction, and entirely at variance with facts. 



" It must be acknowledged that, had this oak been 

 left in the condition to which neglect had reduced 

 it, or if nothing beyond lopping off from year to year 

 the young shoots developed along the trunk had been 

 attempted, its decay would have been rapid and 

 complete ; without pruning it must soon have died 

 without yielding anything more valuable than fire- 

 wood. 



" The removal of numerous branches, for the purpose 

 of restoring vigour to a decrepit tree, may seem op- 

 posed to what has already been stated in regard to 

 the functions of leaves in elaborating plant food ; and 

 it might be argued that pruning must be injurious,, 

 because, in shortening or removing a branch, some of 

 the leaf organs essential to the growth of the tree 

 must also be destroyed. Such an argument is based 

 on a popular error of very general acceptance. 



"Loosened Bark. It is necessary to frequently ex- 

 amine the lower portions of the trunk, especially of 

 trees beginning to grow old ; for here is often found 

 the cause of death in trees, in the large sheets of bark 

 entirely separated from the trunk. This condition of 

 things, which often cannot be detected except by the 

 hollow sound produced by striking the trunk with the 

 back of the iron pruning-knife, arrests the circulation 

 of sap, while the cavity between the bark and the 

 wood furnishes a safe retreat for a multitude of in- 



