THE PHILOSOPHY OF PRUNING 



35 



least hazardous. I cannot, of course, uphold or explain 

 away the examples of injury which follow pruning. They 

 are patent even to the casual observer, but we must not 

 exalt individual instances, however numerous, into proofs 

 of the perniciousness of pruning. 



There should be at this day sufficient study and experi- 

 ence to enable us to pass upon the merits of the practice 

 as a whole. It is urgent, also, that the subject be dis- 

 cussed, for however much of correct teaching may be 



FIG. 24 HOW NOT TO MANAGE TREES 



Trees neglected and vivisected like these cannot be made to pay either as invest- 

 ments or as objects of beauty. 



promulgated, there is a constantly recurring wave of 

 error and prejudice. For myself, I am convinced that 

 pruning, even when somewhat heroic, is not a devitalizing 

 practice. In support of this conviction I shall present 

 arguments from three sources philosophy, plant physi- 



