Cree's System of Pruning Forest Trees. 443 



branches are taken off, numbers of small shoots spring out as 

 feeders. But instead of trees having a handsome appearance, 

 as is the case where the branches are only shortened to a pro- 

 portional length, those trees where the branches are taken out, 

 from whatever cause, always put out numerous feeders ; or 

 otherwise have all the appearance of a large bottle-brush, from 

 the small size of branches, and large quantity of them which 

 must be upon the tree. And those to be removed even to the 

 height of 40 ft. of clean stem, at the intervals of two years, must 

 require a considerable work and time, from so many branches 

 intersecting the body of a tree of such a size, and in most in- 

 stances putting out new shoots for a great number of years, which 

 it will be often found impossible to eradicate. 



Although the wounds of trees of the size stated should close 

 over, the trees will always have a rugged and unshapely ap- 

 pearance instead of having a cylindrical form. It requires little 

 inspection of trees generally, to see that below the ordinary- 

 sized branches a hollow is made, in consequence of the de- 

 scending or proper sap being turned out of its course. Even 

 when the branch is small a hollow will occur, and the parts of 

 the trunk of a large tree that are free of branches, and other 

 parts above the branch, will be found to increase, while the part 

 below the branch remains in a great degree stationary, and a 

 hollow is formed ; nay, though the branch should be removed, 

 the hollow will still continue, probably as long as the tree re- 

 mains. 



With regard to naval timber, almost all writers wish to let the 

 world know that if their advice were taken, there would be suf- 

 ficiency of timber for the British navy of all kinds required, and 

 that the great importance of the whole matter consists in under- 

 standing the growing of bent and crooked timber fit for any part 

 of a ship. But this hobby has been long walking on crutches. 

 Sir Robert Seppings long ago recommended the plan of uniting 

 short timbers, which was adopted, by which every kind of 

 compass-formed timber that could be required was obtained 

 from straight timber. The whole frame of a ship can be pre- 

 pared without waiting as formerly for particular pieces of compass 

 or crooked timber, and every part is now equally seasoned hy 

 the new system. All that is required is to raise timber of the 

 best and soundest quality, and of the different kinds ; for such is 

 now the state of the science of ship-building and the mechanical 

 arts, that they can do very well without the advice of writers on 

 naval timber. 



I might have said much more on the subject of pruning; but 

 as both Mr. Matthew's system and my own are now before the 

 public, I have said as much as the public might feel interested 

 in, and as bears chiefly upon the points at issue. Mr. Matthew 



