PRUNING PLANTS. 187 



which require long periods of time to mature, the forester will 

 do well to pause before he proceeds to prune his plants. 

 Healthy plants of moderate size can be produced at such a 

 low cost, that it is far preferable to throw away badly-shaped 

 plants than to prune them and risk the introduction of 

 disease. In the case, therefore, of small and moderate-sized 

 plants pruning should be avoided. Such plants should be so 

 grown that a compact root system may be produced which 

 does not require pruning. 



Where large plants are used, pruning may be necessary ; its 

 execution depends on a variety of circumstances, of which the 

 following may be mentioned : — 



a. Shape and Condition of Plants. 



In the ease of plants of a normal shape, especially if the 

 root system and crown are in proper proportion, pruning is 

 not necessary. In the reverse case, either the root system or 

 the crown and even the stem may be reduced in extent ; of 

 two leaders one may be removed, abnormally strong side 

 branches shortened, inconveniently long tap or side roots 

 reduced. The pruning of one part may necessitate the 

 pruning of the other, so as to establish a due proportion 

 between them ; if, for instance, the root system has been 

 pruned but not the crown, portions of the latter may not 

 receive sufficient nourishment and dry up. Originally normal 

 plants frequently require pruning, because the root system has 

 been injured in lifting them. 



t). Species. 



There is a great difference in the treatment of plants of 

 different species ; some stand pruning better than others, both 

 as regards the replacement of the pruned parts and the extent 

 to which they are exposed to disease. 



On the whole, conifers stand pruning badly. Larch is 

 perhaps an exception, also deodar and Pinus longifoUa, though 

 they cannot be pruned to the same extent as broad-leaved 



