17$ FOREST PLANTATIONS. [Jan. 



however, frequently become dead branches ; and 

 if fuch were allowed to remain at all on the trees, 

 they would infallibly produce blemifhes calculated 

 greatly to diminim the value of the timber : hence 

 the impropriety of allowing any branch to die on 

 the bole of a tree. Indeed, all branches mould 

 be removed when they are alive ; fuch a method, 

 to our knowledge, being the only fure one to 

 make good timber. From thefe circumflances, 

 an annual pruning, or at lead an annual examina- 

 tion, of all forefts, is neceffary. 



We mall here fubjoin a a few words with re- 

 fpect to the implements to be ufed, and the man- 

 ner of making wounds. 



In every cafe where the knife is capable of 

 lopping off the branch in queftion, namely, in the 

 pruning of infant plants, it is the only inftrument 

 necefiary. All other branches mould be taken 

 off by the saw. A hatchet, or a chisel, mould 

 never be ufed. Every wound on the ftem, or 

 bole, mould be quite in to the quick, that is, to the 

 level and depth of the bark ; nor mould the lead 

 protuberance be left. The branch to be lopped 

 off by the faw mould, in all cafes, be notched or 

 llightly cut on .the under fide, in order to prevent 

 the bark from being torn in the fall ; and when 

 the branch has been removed, the edges of the 

 wound, if any wife ragged, mould be pared fmooth 

 with the knife. If the tree be vigorous, nature 



will 



