PREFACE TO THE FRENCH EDITION. 



I HAVE no claim to originality in this work, and 

 my only object in its publication is to popularize 

 de Courval's method of pruning, in order that all 

 owners of rural property may increase the value of 

 their trees in a simple, sure, and inexpensive manner, 

 through a system of rational priming. 



M. de Courval first laid down the principles on 

 which the system I recommend is based ; and this 

 little treatise is by no means intended to take the 

 place of his larger work, which I cordially recom- 

 mend to every one interested in forest management. 



I acknowledge the priority of M. de Courval's 

 publication, and consider it an honor to follow in 

 his footsteps ; although I am alone responsible for 

 the system I recommend, which has, moreover, been 

 reached through my own investigations and experi- 

 ments. 



The illustrations scattered through the text have 

 been drawn from nature and have one merit, that 

 of correctness. 



A. DES CARS. 



