Jan.'] PRUNING. 173 



men employed as forefters upon pretty extenfive 

 eftates, who never had any inftru&ion in the art 

 of pruning ; and who had not -mind fufficient to 

 difcern what \vas necefTary, either for the health 

 or perfe&ion of the trees which they were em- 

 ployed to manage, and whofe principal qualifica- 

 tions, indeed, feemed to be prefumption and 

 flrength of body. Under fuch circumftances, it 

 is abundantly evident, that pruning can never be 

 properly, or even tolerably done, unlefs the pro- 

 prietor underftand the fubjedt, and himfelf take 

 the trouble of directing. But, alas ! how few do 

 we find who either underftand the fubjecl them- 

 felves, or are difpofed to be at the pains to under- 

 ftand it, far lefs to fuperintend the operation ! 

 In many fmall places, we frequently find a hatch- 

 et put, perhaps, into the hand of fome common 

 labourer, (or, it may be, a carpenter, or even a 

 coachman), who is defired to go to fuch a plant- 

 ation, and prune the trees. Off he goes, perhaps, 

 with a few fuperficial inftr u&ions, and poflibly 

 without any : Whichever be the cafe, is of no im- 

 portance : To work he goes ; begins at the 

 ground ; hacks off every branch and twig within 

 his reach, fometimes clofe by the bole, fometimes 

 three or four inches from it ; and if the trees are 

 fmall, he not unfrequently cuts them half through, 

 by his awkwardnefs in milling his aim. If the tree 

 be twenty feet high or more, he has recourfe to 



another 



