230 



PRUNING. 



Fig. 56. 



Section of a fir tree which has never been pruned, supposed to 

 he cut through opposite branches. 



In fact, fine grained deal cannot be produced unless 

 the trees are planted, or chance to stand so closely 

 together as to prevent all extension of branches. All 

 sorts of the pine tribe intended for profit should be 

 planted to grow up, and, like a field of corn, be all cut 

 down together. Such plantations do not admit of 

 being gradually drawn, except when very young. 

 They may be called, on this account, social trees ; for 

 as soon as the unity of the congregation is broken, 

 the exposed trees, for want of their wonted protection, 

 not only cease to thrive, but many die. Firs planted 

 for ornament should stand at forty or fifty feet dis- 

 tances ; otherwise they cannot show the grandeur of 

 their forms. The pruner must not touch them ; his 

 interference only tends to make them the most ugly 

 objects in the vegetable kingdom. Planted as nurses 

 in young woods of deciduous trees, they are kept 



