On pruning Forest Trees. 27. 



top end ; and the uprights moving on this boh can at pleasure 

 be opened into a triangle, which makes the machine perfectly 

 steady, and easily to be moved : by closing the uprights it 

 is conveniently stowed in the shed, and occupies but little 

 room. I am, Sir, &c. 



Matthias Saul. 

 Pomological Garden, tiear Lancaster, Sept. 18. 1830. 



We have not the George the Fourth polyanthus, and 

 shall feel obliged to Mr. Saul for the plant of it which he 

 offers. — Cond. 



Art. VI. Remarks on pruning Forest Trees, in reply to Mr. Elles. 

 and others. By Mr. John Howden. 



Sir, 



I HAVE this moment read the letter of Mr. Elles ; I trust 

 he has not extinguished my farthing rush-light, but only 

 snuffed it, to make it burn the brighter. It is certainly the 

 duty of Mr. Elles, of myself, and of every practical man in 

 the line, to assist in making the Gardener's Magazine " a 

 burning and a shining light." I perfectly agree with Mr. 

 Elles respecting the physiology of plants ; but the propaga- 

 tion of strawberries, or the striking of pink pipings, has 

 nothing to do with timber trees. All depends on what 

 is ultimately wanted : if I wanted leaves from ofF the tea 

 tree, I should be sorry to cut off the branches ; or if I 

 wanted fruit from the currant bush, I should be sorry to 

 to permit its twigs to remain ; and if I wanted fine clean 

 timber, I should be sorry to see the trunk of the tree all over 

 branches or knots. A certain quantity of branches, twigs, 

 or leaves, is necessary for the growth of timber; but too 

 many are as bad as a man having a larger family than he 

 can maintain. It is true that some kinds of trees will not 

 bear pruning so well as others, just as there are some mothers 

 who would fret themselves to death for the loss of their off- 

 spring; whilst there are others who Avould do better without 

 them, for instance, the cow without her calf. 



But I am wandering from my subject, and, as Mr. Elles 

 will say, or Sir John FalstafF would say, I make such " un- 

 savoury similes." Oh ! by the by, Agronome is very proud 

 to think his name had a charm in it for Mr, Elles; while 

 John Howden is no less sorry to think his name is iso dis- 

 gusting to him. Another gentleman has told me the same 

 thing ; but I tell them both that, however humble my name 

 may be, as Shakspeare says, " I'll make it grea,ter ere I part 



