Jan."] PRUNING, c. 153 



we have known to produce the mod pleafmg ef- 

 fels, have their tops in proportion to their whole 

 height, as two to two, or as four to five. Thus, if 

 the tree be forty feet in height, the item mould 

 be from twenty to twenty-four feet ; while the 

 top mould be from eighteen to .twenty feet in 

 height. The tops of hedge-row trees mould be 

 allowed to exprefs the general character of the 

 kind : it would be formal and inelegant, to force 

 the Sycamore and the Elm to (how the fame 

 character of top. The former will grow more 

 upright and com pa el, while the latter will be more 

 open and flraggiing. 



The tops of grown up hedge-row trees mould 

 not be allowed to take too great a breadth ; 

 neither mould they be too much retrenched ; no 

 competing limb which might endanger the health 

 of the plant fhould be allowed. The difficulty, 

 or eafe, of pruning hedge-row trees of the above 

 defcription, will depend on the kinds which are 

 planted. The Scots Elm will give more trou- 

 ble than the Englifh Elm ; the Beech, more than 

 the Sycamore ; the Am and the Oak, in their pro- 

 per foil and fituation, will need but a moderate at- 

 tention. 



Hedge-row^ trees muft be pruned from the time 

 of planting, onward ; in the manner directed for 

 deciduous trees, on the fkirts of narrow ftripes. 

 The leader muft be encouraged ; yet the branches, 



compofmg 



