392 THE BOOK OF THE LANDED ESTATE. 



While a tree is young, the branches should be so checked and regu- 

 lated as to give the leading shoot full advantage ; and where this is done 

 in time, it will not often be found necessary afterwards to use the knife. 



There are many cases, however, where trees have been long neglected, 

 and by throwing out strong side branches, interfere with the tree's growth 

 to timber. Where this is the case, we should prune up the side branches 

 of the trees from about four to five feet from the ground that is, sup- 

 posing the trees to be from fifteen to twenty feet high, or more ; and we 

 should also check any strong side branches which might be getting too 

 much ahead of the others ; and where there were two or more leading 

 shoots, let them be reduced to one, choosing in all cases the strongest 

 and best in every respect as the shoot to carry on the stem of the plant. 



We have lately pruned a number of young oak-trees on the estate of 

 Wass. They averaged about seven feet high. The trees were healthy, 

 and very much given to tlrsow out strong side branches. In pruning 

 these, we first cut off all the side branches close to the stem that were 

 not more than one inch in diameter, and these were removed to a little 

 over two feet in height up the stem. Where there were any branches 

 exceeding one inch in diameter at their base, we did not remove these, 

 but shortened them; and any large branches in the top which were 

 growing too fast, and likely to interfere with the leading shoot, we cut off 

 at about half their length ; but in several instances we found two shoots 

 leading, and in those cases we removed the weakest close to the stem. In 

 about two or three years after this, we shall go over this plantation again, 

 and remove close by the stem those low branches which we have fore- 

 shortened. The reason why we prefer shortening the branches previous 

 to cutting them close off is, that by doing so the flow of sap is checked 

 in the branches, and the shortened part which remains is weakened, and 

 can be afterwards removed with less danger than if it had been taken off 

 all at once. 



Pruning is at all times against nature, and therefore I advocate as 

 little of it as possible. Where it is chiefly wanted, is to check strong 

 branches, or in the removal of one leader where two or more exist. 



This operation should be done in the months of May and June, as then 

 the wounds have time to heal before winter. Any pruning after these 

 months will be comparatively fresh when frosts set in, and the plants 

 will suffer accordingly. 



Coniferous trees should not be operated upon with the knife, as the 

 wound made by it seldom heals up satisfactorily, but keeps breaking out 

 each year as the sap comes. 



With this class of trees, where a branch is inclined to get too strong, 

 or a top shoot is seemingly taking advantage of the leading shoot, I 



