102 THE NATURE AND PRACTICE 



ill various situations ; in short, in order to a right 

 understanding of the nature of pruning, as apphed 

 to forest trees, attention must be paid to its effects 

 upon trees under every variety of circumstances. 

 I consider it proper, that every proprietor of plan- 

 tations should be able to judge for himself in the 

 matter of pruning, and to detect proper from im- 

 proper pruning ; and to this end, I shall enter 

 minutely into detail under this head, and give a 

 distinct statement of my reasons for pruning in 

 one case and not in another. But before entering 

 into detail regarding the practical operation, it will, 

 I think, be proper first to examine the effects that 

 the amputation of a branch from a tree has upon 

 its constitution ; and such previous knowledge will 

 prepare the mind for a better understanding of 

 the true nature of pruning, as it is generally prac- 

 tised among foresters. 



A tree, through the agency of its roots, draws 

 liquid nourishment from the earth in which they are 

 placed, mostly in a state of solution in water ; which 

 liquid nourishment, or what is generally termed the 

 sap of the tree, ascends the trunk through the lon- 

 gitudinal vessels, or pores of the wood ; from which 

 again, each branch or limb of the tree is supplied 

 in succession. The body or trunk of a tree forms 

 one bundle of longitudinal tubes, through which the 

 sap ascends from the roots to the branches ; and 

 from this bundle, each separate branch is supphed 



