440 Cree's Sijstem of Priming Forest Trees. 



pruning to a point of improvement never before known. William 

 Scott, Esq., W. S., Northumberland Street, Convener of the 

 Committee of the Highland and Agricultural Society, who 

 awarded the prizes for the essays on the pruning of forest trees 

 in 1836, expressed his highest satisfaction with the system, work- 

 manship, and direction, at his estate of Teviotbank, in Sep- 

 tember, 1839, The Rev. Mr. Christison has also noticed the 

 same in the statistical account of Biggar. In the nursery of Eagle 

 and Henderson, Edinburgh, experimental trees may be seen. 

 Biggar, February \0. 1840. 



Art. V. On Pruning Forest Trees. By Gavin Cree, 

 Nurserymao, Biggar. 



In the last number of this Journal \_Qiiarterly Journal of Agri- 

 culture'], I observe an article by Mr. Matthew of Gourdie-Hill, 

 containing remarks on a paper of mine, in the preceding number, 

 on Pruning Forest Trees. That gentleman's avowed object in 

 coming forward is with the laudable design of showing the er- 

 roneousness of my system to such of the readers of this Journal 

 as, he says, are incompetent, from want of experience or ob- 

 servation, to judge for themselves. How far he has accomplished 

 this object will be seen in the sequel. 



Mr. Matthew gives a pretty correct abridgement of my prin- 

 ciples of pruning forest trees, with some slight inadvertencies ; 

 in regard to which, however, as these are distinctly enough 

 stated in the article itself, and as they do not particularly bear 

 upon the matters at issue, I need not here waste time by putting 

 him right. 



It is contended by Mr. Matthew that pruning will not increase 

 the quantity of timber, and this he couples with his view of all 

 that is necessary to obtain clean timber. " With regard," says 

 he, "to the one half of the timber produced in the temperate 

 zone, the Coniferae, pruning in any shape whatever will not in- 

 crease the quantity of timber, either in the single tree, or on a 

 given space of ground. A well regulated closeness, or rather 

 openness, being all that is required for extension ; and the 

 sweeping of the smothered branches close down being all that 

 is required for cleanness of timber. In the woods consisting of 

 the other tribes of larger-leaved trees, pruning will also have no 

 influence in increasing the quantity of timber, provided the 

 closeness be properly regulated, and the trees be kept to one 

 leatler till they reach the required height of stems." I ask Mr. 

 Matthew how these objects could be accomplished without 

 pruning or cutting off the branches, or parts of branches, in 



