652 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



and conceiving from what had been reported of them that 

 Dr. TVs iystem of pruning was nearly similar to mine, 

 which I have proved to be good, and have practised when 

 opportunities offered, I was induced lately to go and see 

 them, in order that I might judge for myself. I must 

 gay, however, that I was a little disappointed; but I, 

 nevertheless, saw much to admire and praise. 



The system of pruning pursued by Dr. T. is a la Ponley 

 in the extreme, only in a different guise. The periods, 

 seasons, and manner in which the operation is performed 

 do not alter the nature of the system ; and the same 

 notion seems to be entertained as that of Pontey, viz., 

 that the divesting a tree of its side branches increases the 

 weight or bulk of timber in the trunk. 



Dr. Thackeray and his panegyrists appear to think 

 that the increase of timber in the trunk arises from 

 the consolidation of what is termed the true sap or 

 cambium in its descent, after it has been elaborated 

 by the leaves j and that the sap is acquired chiefly by 

 the roots from the soil. Now I am of a very different 

 opinion ; and have demonstrated by experiments — the 

 results of which I have published in tables in a book 

 entitled " Facts, Hints, &c," about 20 years ago— that 

 the increase of the girth, or circumference of the trunk of 

 trees, depends entirely on the number and healthiness of 

 the branches and leaves. I have there also shown, 

 beyond a doubt, that Larches with numerous healthy 

 branches and leaves increase in girth upwards of two 

 inches annually, and that those having diseased leaves 

 and only a few branches increase very little, if anything, 

 in a season in girth. The same fact holds good with 

 other trees. I could get up a tree in an exposed open 

 situation as tall and slender as in a crowded plantation, 

 merely by divesting it of its side branches as they are 

 produced. As the increase of the timber in the trunk 

 and branches is formed by the descending filaments or 

 woody tissue from the annually-produced leaf-buds and 

 shoots, and as every leaf-bud is a new member, and every 

 branch a family, and the whole together a nation, as it 

 were; therefore, to make it a large and strong tree, 

 increase by all possible means the number and healthi- 

 ness of the branches and leaves. Lopping off branches 

 as they are produced, or too soon afterwards, makes trees 

 tall, weak, puny things ; in fact, you may get trees to grow 

 as tall and slender, and that in a very short period, merely 

 by divesting them prematurely of their side branches, as 

 when they are growing in a crowded plantation without 

 having been timely thinned out. 



Dr. Thackeray's system of pruning is tolerably correct, 

 but it is unmercifully overdone. I perceived that some 

 parts of the plantations had been too long neglected 

 before they had been thinned and pruned. Near 

 the rides or roads there are certainly some fine Oak 

 and Ash-trees ; and the greater part of the Larches 

 are good, but they are not what they might have 

 been, and undoubtedly would have been, under a 

 better system. With the exception of the specimens 

 already mentioned, the greater part of the Oaks and Ash 

 are not fine trees, and evidently show signs of having 

 been injured by the Larches not having been sooner 

 thinned out from among them, and also from having 

 been pruned to excess ; one object is, however, gained, 

 viz. tall, straight, slender trees without side-branches, to 

 a certain height, and which are only fit for ladders, raiis, 

 poles, or such like purposes. 



Now, let any one who disputes what I have advanced 

 concerning the increase of timber in the trunk, cut down 

 a tree having numerous branches on one side and only 

 a few on the other, and they will then see that the con- 

 centric annual rings are much wider on the side having 

 the greater number of branches than on the other. I 

 would also refer those who are sceptical to the indis- 

 putable demonstrations of the rapid growth of timber in 

 trees having numerous branches, published last year in 

 a pamphlet, by J. Hamerton, Esq. 



The late writers who praise Dr. T.'s mode of pruning, 

 all advocate the same thing, namely, that the increase 

 of timber in the trunk is obtained from the sap derived 

 from the soil, and that branches prevent the increase of 

 timber in the trunk : they say that branches draw the 

 sap from the trunk. This opinion I was accused of 

 entertaining 24 years ago, when I began to foreshorten 

 branches of the Larch where they had made vigorous 

 and numerous shoots , and this was what induced me to 

 make the experiments which I have published. Now 

 I am fully convinced of the fact that the increase of 

 timber in the trunk and branches is made by the 

 descending filaments or woody tissue, from the annual 

 leaf-buds and shoots. From the conflicting opinions 

 about the pruning of forest-trees lately, I have avoided 

 using the term pruning as much as possible, and substi- 

 tuted training of forest- trees in its stead. My system 

 is to increase the number of branches when necessary, 

 and to keep them of proper dimensions, and within a 

 moderate compass, so as to insure a proper thick- 

 ness and elongation of the stem, according to the kinds 

 of trees and future purposes for which they may be 

 required; but I never, by pruning off the side branches, 

 deprive trees of the very means of increasing the trunk 

 till that object is attained, and other branches produced 

 to supply their places, when some of them might be 

 taken off, or suffered to decay of themselves according 

 to circumstances and the nature of the trees. 



Dr. T. and the advocates of his mode of pruning, 

 imagine that because he prunes his trees every year and 

 at all seasons of the year, and not at certain seasons or 

 stated periods, that his method must be different from 

 Pontey's and his copiers, but the result is the same in 

 both cases ; by cutting off the branches he deprives the 



»» 



1 would not have noticed this subject again, had I not 

 been convinced that the system is apt to establish a very 

 erroneous mode of pruning, wholly opposed to the true 

 means of increasing useful and valuable timber. 



To contrast Dr. T.'s plantations with others very 

 much neglected that are near them, and that were 

 planted at the same time — as Mr. Scott Russell and 

 some others have done — is not the way to form a correct 

 opinion of their merits. 



Notwithstanding the reported superiority of the treat- 

 ment of the trees at Nerquis, compare them with some 

 others I shall mention, on which no particular care or 

 skill has been bestowed, but which have been left to 

 struggle on as they could in crowded plantations, and 

 see what the results are. The trees at Nerquis have 

 been planted about 28 or 30 years. I took the cir- 

 cumference of two trees at four feet from the ground — 

 a Larch and an Oak. They were considered to be 

 among the best specimens ; the Larch was 3 feet 



2 inches in girth, and the Oak was 1 foot 7 inches in 

 girth. There were some Ash trees about the same 

 dimensions as those of the Oaks. The finest Larches 

 would probably average from 2 feet to 3 feet in girth, 

 and some of the Oaks from 1 foot to 1 foot 6 or 7 inches 

 in girth. Now in a plantation — the property of Sir W. 

 W. Wynne, in this neighbourhood on the side of a hill 

 of a considerable elevation, and exposed to cold boisterous 

 breezes from the Welsh mountains — I have lately mea- 

 sured trees, planted about 30 years ago, which have re- 

 ceived no pruning, but have been occasionally thinned, 

 the girth of which, at four feet from the ground, is as 



follows : — 



Larches from . . 3 ft. 3 in. to 4 ft. 7 in. 

 Oaks ,, ,, 2 ft. 6 in. to 2 ft. 7 in. 



Ash „ ,, 2 ft, 3 in. to 2 ft. 11 in. 



And Elms were about 2 ft. 7 in. in girth. 



These trees are as tall or taller than Dr. Thackeray's ; 

 in proportion to the branches on them the girth is inva- 

 riably increased or diminished. 



Larches are on an average from 3 ft. to 4 ft. 6 in. in girth. 

 Oaks are from . . . 2 ft. to 2 ft. 7 in. 

 And Ash are from . . 2 ft. to 2 ft. 10 in. 



In another plantation at Llanforda, belonging to Sir 

 H. Wynne, which is, however, certainly in a more 

 favourable situation, and has a better aspect, there are 

 trees planted about 28 years ago, on which no pruning 

 has been performed, but which have been occasionally 

 moderately thinned ; the measurement of which, at 

 4 feet from the ground, is as follows : — viz. : Larches, 



3 ft. 4 in., 4 ft., and 4 ft. 3 in., with numerous branches 

 down nearly to the bottom ; an Elm was 3 ft. 1 in. in 

 girth ; a Turkey Oak, 2 ft. 9 in. ; common Oaks, 2 ft. 6 in., 

 2 ft. 8 in., and 2 ft. 10 in. ; and a Spanish Chesnut, 



2 ft. 6 in. At the same place a Silver Fir, planted in a 

 shrubbery about 22 years ago, measures in girth 4 ft. 1 in. ; 

 all its branches annually increase in girth about 2 in. and 

 2-eighths ; two Turkey Oaks, planted 22 years ago, are 



3 ft. 7 in., and 3 ft. 8 in. in girth ; all the branches an- 

 nually increase in thickness about 2 inches. In a third 

 plantation, the property of W. O. Gore, Esq., M.P. (an 

 extensive planter), there is a noble Larch that was 

 planted about 40 years ago. It measures in girth, at 4 ft. 

 from the ground, 5 ft. lin., and contains fully 40 ft. of 

 cubic timber. This shows what might be done under 

 proper management. This tree, by mere chance, had 

 never been over-crowded, and it was never pruned. In 

 the same plantation, and under the same circumstances, 

 is a Spruce Fir, which girths 5 ft. 3 in. ; it is furnished with 

 nearly all its branches. The staple and permanent trees 

 here are chiefly Oaks, a very few of which measure from 

 2 ft. 6 in. to 3 ft. 3 in. in girth. The average girth is from 

 1 ft. 6 in. to 2 ft. 6 in. The trees are tall, and are drawn 

 up weakly, with but few side-branches and not much 

 top ; all this results from the want of timely thinning 

 and training. The slow growth in trunks of the Oak- 

 trees is occasioned solely by neglect and want of skill ; 

 they ought to have averaged from 3 ft. to 4 ft. in girth 

 during that time. The same result, to some extent, 

 happens in Dr. T.'s plantations, on account of his mode 

 of pruning. 



Only imagine having a plantation of Larch at 40 years' 

 growth, with from 140 to 200 trees on an acre, each con- 

 taining 40 ft. of cubic timber ; and I have no doubt but 

 that an acre would produce and bring to maturity that 

 number of Larches, as the trees would only be from 

 15 to 18 ft. apart, allowing the branches to extend each 

 way from 2| to 3 yards from the bole. And look again 

 at another plantation, consisting chiefly of Larches, be- 

 longing to the same gentleman, on a high and very ex- 

 posed situation, that have been planted about 24 years, 

 and that are nearly all greatly injured for want of timely 

 thinning — the very largest trees of which, and of those only 

 a very few, measure 2 ft. 1 in., 2 ft. 7 in., and 2 ft. 9 in. 

 in girth, at 4 feet from the ground. Again, at the 

 Hayes, near Oswestry, in a very favourable situation as 

 to soil, climate, and aspect, there is a plantation of 

 Larches which have been planted 35 years ; the ground 

 on which they grow was previously an Oak wood. 

 These Larches have been pruned much more severely 

 than Dr. T.'s ; they measure, at 4 feet from the ground, 

 only 1 ft. 10 in., 2 ft. 1 in., and 2 ft. 9 in. in girth : 

 reflect on this fact ; Pontey is here exceeded. At the 

 same place, and very near these Larches, is a Cedar of 

 Lebanon; whose age, counting from the time seed was 

 sown in a bed to the present time, is about 88 years ; it 

 measures 12 ft. in circumference, at 4 ft. from the 

 ground. This, taking into consideration the slow growth 

 in its infancy, is not much less than 2 inches of increase 

 in girth annually. There are also here a Scotch Fir, 

 9 ft. in girth ; a Larch, 9 ft. 1 in. in girth ; and an ever- 



[Sr-PT. j© 



:™J?Z?™°* at *• «iTti«e"„ the (££ 



;r ous branch^ 

 i to the first 



spent in forming large branches^mi^b^^ 

 made to form valuable timber in - ' 7 **** 



are growing singly, and have n„ *' CeJ *^TW 



length of tSe bo" from tul\ToZT ^^ tZ 

 on each, is between 11 and 1 2 T T > > ? ** 

 spent in forming u P »- k u ' * tott w hich h 



have mentioned 



growing tree the 



cin 



the 



year 



Cedar of Lebanon i. *"£? * *"* 

 circumstances ; and to contrast the ^^T"* 

 preventive system of pruning and nl 

 , and at all seasons of thenar P T h ' ^ 

 pruning is generally understood to reduce the „!!£* 

 branches, instead of increasing atd ISr ■ ■^^ 

 and in that lies the error. S mo ^jm* tW*. 



The following is a statement of the rirthaml l»i^ 



some of the trees in the Royal Forests itf* 

 planted about the same time M the Nerqtf. l^L.' 

 as will be seen by the dates. The measu^^i^S 

 was taken at 4 feet from the ground. ChTp' U ** 

 were planted in the years 1813-14-15. Th 

 in them, measured September, 1844, was- 



Girth. 



■ 



Btti 



e lue of treet 



Larches 



Elm 



Oaks 



Ash 



ft. 

 3 

 3 

 2 

 2 



in. 



o 

 I 



4 



3 



H r 



31 

 II 



Chopwell les east of Carlisle, and is as cold, Ut. mi 

 bleak as North Wales. Nerquis lies west froa CklS 

 and is bleak and cold. Dean Forest is situated fe2 

 southern. part of South Wales; the situation if ha! 

 and bleak. The following is the girth and heizht of 

 in Dean Forest :— 



I. Stapledge Hill, 

 planted 1814. 



Oaks 



2. Haywood Hill, 

 1810-11. 



Oaks 



Girth. 



Larch 



3. Blakeney Hill, 

 1813. 



Oaks 



Spanish 

 Chesnut 



Asli 



6 



3 



1 



9 

 8 



9 



hgt. 

 ft. 



32 

 34 



37 



3. Barnhill, 

 1810. 



trees 



wum. 



30 

 30 

 31 

 35 

 31 

 31 



Oaks 



Spanish 

 Chesnut 



2 5 



34 



2 6 



35 



2 4 



33 



2 11 



37 



3 9 



36 



4 1 



39 



1 10 



39 



1 8 



33 



2 



S3 



Spruce Fir 



n 



1*3 



4. Bromley Hill, 

 1812. 



Oaks . 



Spanish 

 Chesu ut 



Spruce Fir 



Compare these trees with those at Nerquis— with tke 

 Larches at the Hayes— or with Oaks of 40 years' growta 

 in Mr. Gore's plantations. Look at Barnhill, where t 

 Chesnut only 34 years old measures in girth 5 feet 

 2 inches, and is nearly 40 feet in height, making tn 

 annual increase in girth of about 2 h inches; a Spruce 

 Fir 4 feet 6 inches in girth, and 41 feet in height ; and 

 Oaks 3 feet 3 inches in girth, and 34 feet in height. At 

 Bromley-hill, Oaks of 32 years' growth are 3 feet 2 inches 

 in girth, and measure nearly 40 feet in beieht ; in Chop- 

 well woods, at 30 years old, they are 2 feet 4 incbei i» 

 girth. It should be mentioned that the Oaks wba 

 planted in the Forest of Dean were much injured iaj 

 destroyed by mice. I have little doubt but that Imw 

 have found Oaks, both in Dean Forest and in LMf 

 well woods, of larger dimensions ; but it was my in* 

 that the measurement should be taken from treei grow 

 ingin the most exposed places, and at abou « e "T 

 altitude as those at Nerquis. Nearly all the L* cha» 

 these woods have been cut down, and no aol J™ N>r . 

 were selected from among them. The trees i * 



quis plantations have been divested of their side branch 

 from 15 feet to 20 feet in height on an average. 



In conclusion, I protest against the •■ jogjj^ 

 cates f the adhering too closely to that doJnne ^ ^ 

 tive in most cases of as much injury to , t&e i ^ ^ 

 value of timber as over-pruning is. it » lh(J ?rt . 



a middle line between the two « tremes '.^ t we m »yref- 

 ventive system of pruning. It is clear to ^^ 



late by skill and art the increase of the gtrw .^ 



tion of the trunks to almost any proportions 



W. Bxllington, Underhilt, Oswestry, Salop- 



erftl 



WEATHER-WISDOM 



WMinDiv»i- , ^rHftpO*" 1 " 



The vicissitudes of the seasons h^^an *° d * 

 influence on the fortunes of the liusbjna r , 



gardener, and modifying so much ^^J tba K t the •* 

 and amusements of life, we cannot wonder ^ 

 versal propensity of human nature to P J ^ * 

 shouldbe exercised in the .species of ^^ cal* 

 been rather quaintly, and with an air M ^rfoei* 

 Weather-wisdom. It is curious to jtudy «je s ^ 



., . *_,._ c *i>z» Wht illusions of lmiac ^ c [ L 



«<Gre< 

 to* 1 



pher, who could « restrain the rage « w» - 

 LutLi. th* fervours of the Crab, ana u 



thiVfoUy, from the lofty ¥™™"7*e°V°S-«>' ' 



, Crab," and of the 

 =ine7who "brings rain on the jngg ^ t £ 

 humble speculations of him wh o ■ will _ b « , £ 

 rain because it looks black, or 



mitigate the fervours 



rain because it looks oiac*, - - d „ 



to-morrow because the sun go" down 

 „.. „ -UW that notwithstanding trie if J 



ree of the means of increasing the timber in the trunk, green Oak, 5 ft. 6 in. in girth. These are supposed to 



Bot«» 



fail-* 

 not surprising that notwithstand.ng w« > --J tfajs W 

 of the most observant and best judging lUnfcl £ 

 prophets, and the general convict on « rf ^ 

 pUns of the utter futil ty of ^jg"^-* * '* 

 rology, except as regard the b"**^ f the ** 





yeiT from day to day we hear a <^-"- Mtil b r 

 Lnrdities ?-not such as are idly ■«« » ' ely 



hear a repel'"* 

 c sucn .- are idly »* »' elJ _ 

 in the greetings of casual rencontre.,^.^ of ^M 





and put into 



print with all the solemnity 



