50 Causes of Ignorance in Arhoricnlture, 



pruning, no-pruning, and rot-tree-pruning. I do not think 

 you published Mr. Cree's essay ; perhaps you will. Not having 

 been able to see the four Numbers of this Magazine preceding 

 the last two, I am ignorant of what made John Howden give 

 his new bill. Hoping he will come to the scratch again (for 

 we cannot do without him), I remain, Sir, yours, &c. 



Thainston, Nov. 10. 1832. W. Taylor. 



Art. XIII. Observations on some of the principal Causes tvhy the 

 most important Parts of the Science of Arboriculture, pruning 

 and thinning, or rather the System to supersede the Necessity of 

 much pruning, are not more generally hnovon, or at least practised; 

 with Hints for the Removal of these Causes. By Mr. W. BiL- 



LINGTON. 



Sir, 



From reading the numerous conflicting opinions on the 

 science of arboriculture, published in the Gardener's Magazine 

 and some other works, which have come under my observation 

 within the last few years, I am induced to offer a few remarks, 

 which you are at liberty to publish in your Magazine, if you 

 judge them worthy a place in such a useful publication. What 

 has induced me to resume my pen is the extraordinary, yet still 

 too common, opinion Mr. Howden has advanced relative to the 

 subject, in Vol. VIII. p. 560., which he terms the true system ; and 

 of which he says, that he will staiid or fall by it. But I can 

 assure Mr. Howden, that it is not with any desire to bring him 

 to the ^'^ scratch^' again, as he terms it, that I notice what he 

 has advanced on die subject, but to prevent others from im- 

 bibing or retaining such erroneous opinions. For possibly I 

 may not see what he can further say about it; or, if I do, I 

 shall probably not notice it. He may, from his ready talent 

 at humour, get the laugh against me ; but, I trust, I have 

 philosophy enough not to mind such a method of " shutting 

 people's mouths ; " as my desire is to be useful to others as far 

 as I am able, without hurting any one, and to seek for the 

 true knowledge of the subject, in oi'der to divulge and spi'ead 

 it as clearly and extensively as I am able. 



Seeing that there are such clashing opinions (let them be 

 called systems, methods, or what you please), I am put in 

 mind of a circumstance which I have proved in myself, and 

 which may tend to elucidate my remarks a little. Some years 

 ago, I purchased a famous British Herbal, that professed to 

 cure all manner of diseases incident to mankind, by the 

 virtues of herbs, upon an entire new plan, by a Mr. J. Ingle. 



