OF PRUNING TREES. 125 



strength upon the top. And wherever two dis- 

 tinct tops occurred in one individual tree, I cut off 

 one, always leaving the one which appeared the 

 most strong and healthy, and which issued most 

 directly from the centre of the system of the tree, 

 although in many cases it did not take an upright 

 direction ; for let it be observed, that an oak tree is 

 the more valuable for having a bend in its form, 

 such trees being useful in ship-building. 



In a similar manner I have pruned plantations 

 of tliirty years' standing ; but in the case of prun- 

 ing at such an advanced age, no branch should be 

 cut from the trunk that exceeds three inches in 

 diameter, if it is intended that the timber should 

 be of value when of full age ; and even where such 

 branches are to be taken off, they should be short- 

 ened in one year and cut clean off the year fol- 

 lowing, by wliich precaution the vessels which 

 convey the sap to the branch receive a gradual 

 check, and are to a considerable extent deadened 

 before the complete amputation takes place, and 

 consequently the body of the tree is not injured by 

 such gradual treatment. And again, this is in a 

 great measure influenced by the nature of the situ- 

 ation upon wliich the trees may be growing. If 

 trees growing upon a high and exposed situation 

 are not properly pruned when they are young, 

 they will not admit of much pruning when above 

 fifteen years old ; in such a situation the sap of the 



