TREE PRUNING. 



where amputation took place, which not only rob the tree of 

 its graceful natural appearance, but render it susceptible to 

 disease and insect pests. There is no need to specialise cases 

 where this most objectionable system is carried out, for a 

 walk around our squares and gardens will unfortunately 

 reveal how prevalent mal-treatment of trees in the way 

 of pruning is effected. There might be some excuse for 

 planting our noblest forest trees in cramped and unsuitable 

 positions were there no other species of smaller growth 

 that would take their place, but the various species of 

 Pyrus, Cratsegus, dwarf Acacia, Mulberry, Catalpa and 

 Sumach surely give us sufficient scope for choosing trees 

 of restricted growth for confined positions and so do 

 away with the barbarous system of pruning which the 

 employing of large growing species necessitates. 



Even in the case of dwarf avenues and screens it is 

 quite unnecessary to use such large growing trees as 

 the lime and plane where pruning must oft be resorted 

 to, for an avenue or screen of thorn or mulberry the 

 beam tree or mountain ash would all be more suitable, 

 and in the end far more natural and artistic in appearance. 



To sum up in a few words my contention is that no 

 tree should be planted in a position where, in order to 

 keep it within due bounds, a systematic clipping and 

 pruning has to be resorted to. 



Pruning Dead Wood. Opinions differ greatly as to 

 whether or not dead branches should be removed from park 

 and woodland trees. It is, however, mainly a matter of taste, 

 and on which point two of the largest owners of woodlands 

 in this country hold distinctly opposite opinions, though at 

 the same time it cannot be denied that the careful removal 

 of all dead and dying wood from a tree is highly beneficial. 

 Pruning should, however, only be extended to such trees as 

 are in a fairly healthy condition, with well-developed heads, 

 and which contain only a moderate quantity of dead wood, 

 there being many fine old specimens that would be rendered 

 unsightly in the extreme and receive no benefit from removal 

 of the dead and dying timber, but this has direct reference 

 to trees standing singly throughout the park, and not to 

 specimens in the woodland. 



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