18 TREE PRUNING. 



be placed at a distance from the ground equal to 

 one-third or one-half of the total height of the tree. 

 The head should be rounded, regular, and set up- 

 right on the trunk. The wood, owing to the healthy 

 growth of the tree, is straight-grained, compact, and 

 suitable for construction. Such trees have a high 

 value ; and, in order to grow them, a method of prun- 

 ing is adopted similar to that practised by gardeners 

 in forming pyramidal fruit trees, with the difference, 

 however, that the gardener favors the development 

 of the lower branches, which are necessary for his 

 purpose, while the aim of the forester is to increase 

 foliage at the top of the tree by diminishing the vigor 

 of the lower branches ; and to obtain by successive 

 suppressions of branches the necessary length of 

 trunk. 



There are two distinct operations in pruning : the 

 removal of some branches, the shortening of others. 

 The shape of a tree must depend somewhat, of course, 

 upon its age, the nature of its surroundings, and the 

 character of the soil, etc. Where pruning is not 

 practised the reserve trees approach the proper form 

 in proportion to the length of time the coppice 

 beneath them is allowed to grow. In forests, where 

 thirty or more years are allowed to elapse between 

 the cuttings, the undergrowth serves to prune the 

 permanent trees by checking 5 the development of 

 their lower branches, and thus determining the height 

 of their trunks. Sprout land is, however, often cut 

 over every ten years ; and this practice prevents the 



