357 



publication of Pontey's treatise on pnming, which came out in 1806, tlie 

 Jxirbarous method of loppincf trees, with a view to their improvement^ 

 was nearly miknown north of the Tweed. 



If planters could only be persuaded, that, by means of lopping and 

 pruning, they will not accelerate the growth of trees, it would be a great 

 point gained ; and that if woods be left to nature, they will advance 

 even more rapidly, than where the lopping system is adopted. The 

 fact is, that no boughs should ever be removcels larger than what the 

 growth of the bark will in two, or perhaps three years, fairly cover ; 

 and even with such a precaution, the evil of knotty and unsound wood 

 (which invariably attends the lopping method) will not altogether be 

 remedied. If we inquire how nature, in woods of her own sowing, 

 raises the cleanest and soundest timber of every species, we shall find, 

 that it is by displacing, early and gradually, the superfluous lateral 

 branches, and thereby promoting elongation of stem. If we inquire 

 how she produces the toughest and most durable wood, it will be seen, 

 that it is by exposure to a colder atmosphere than that, in which such 

 elongation of stem is generated. Let us, therefore, prune early, and 

 thin gradually and frequently, after having first planted much more 

 closely for profitable, than for ornamental purposes. Yet there is a 

 closeness of collocation, if I may so speak, in natural woods, that is, in 

 woods raised fortuitously from the seed, which the planter, for obvious 

 reasons, will not venture to imitate. 



With these objects in view, it is pleasing to observe, that the judicioua 

 system of "cutting in" is now adopted by many pruners of acknowledged 

 reputation. This consists, when we displace side-branches, in cutting 

 away at first a third part, or more, at the extremity, and retaining two- 

 thirds, or even less ; but we must defer the removal of the entire bough 

 till the following, or even another season. Thus it is found, on the 

 simplest principles of vegetable physiology, that the power of increas- 

 ing in size, which the bough possessed, will by this process be sensibly 

 diminished ; so that, after a year or two, it may be entirely removed, 

 with the least possible risk of injury to the quality of the wood. In the 

 same way, if a terminal bud be removed, whether by intention or acci- 

 dent, a similar result will follow, although naturally in a lesser degree. 

 According to this principle, which I have of late years adopted, I can 

 show entire young plantations at this place, which have been very 

 rapidly and successfully pruned, and their progressive vigour wonder- 

 fiilly increased, by the removel of terminal shoots, and terminal buds 

 only, as circumstances required ; and the most effectual assistance has 

 thus been given to nature, in the production of sound wood. 



