524 Retrospective Criticism. 



the capability of being easily transplanted. It should only be resorted to with 

 scarce and valuable plants or shrubs, not trees. 



" 752. The specific principles on which pruning is founded, and its general 

 effects" 8fc. One of the specific principles of pruning is also the stimulus 

 given to vitality. When the leading branch of a small tree, which, perhaps, has 

 not been growing well, but has got the roots fully established, is cut back to 

 one bud, not only is the rush of sap which should have supplied the whole 

 buds diverted into the one, and the shoot made thus more vigorous, but the 

 vitality of the tree has acquired an impetus that it did not formerly possess. 

 From a lazy slow-growing plant it has been converted into one of a quick, 

 healthy, vigorous growth, a stimulus is given to the roots also to increase, and 

 the tree is entirely renovated. The benefit is lasting, not temporary, and will 

 continue, if circumstances are favourable, and no check of bad soil or bad 

 weather ensues to counteract its vigour. It is thus that the forester cuts back 

 his oak plants in the forest, after being a few years planted, and trains a single 

 shoot from the bottom, knowing well that the vigour of this one shoot will be 

 lasting ; that the impetus given to the growth of the trees will continue ; and 

 that, in a few years, the cut over tree will be many times larger than those 

 allowed to stand uncut. It is thus that nurserymen increase the vigour of 

 their young plants by pruning ; and that gardeners, when pruning for wood, 

 cut farther back than when pruning for fruit. 



" 758. Close pruning. 768. Stopping and pinching out." If the tops of 

 the shoots of forest trees are pinched off in time, and proper attention paid to 

 the plantation from its commencement, the contending large arms being con- 

 verted into small side shoots, there will be little need for pruning at all, and 

 skill will be of more consequence than labour. It is shortening-in, or fore- 

 shortening, done in a much better and much easier way. 



" 761. Spurring-in" The laying-in of small shoots, in place of cutting back 

 to naked branches and spurs, should be more encouraged. More distance than 

 usual should be left between the leading branches, and plenty of young wood 

 nailed on after the manner of peach trees. It diminishes the quantity of breast- 

 wood, which is an evident practical anomaly, and serves no good purpose, to 

 be annually renewed and annually cut out. The growth should be much better 

 spent in producing young wood and fruit, which will not require so much slash- 

 ing of wood. 



" 767. The cutting doivn of the stem or trunk of a tree to the ground" fyc. 

 The thin layer of alburnum is the consequence of stinting rather than the 

 cause. A tree may be renovated though not cut back to the collar, and part 

 of the old stem with its thin laburnum left. The vigour of the new growth 

 will give a thicker coating of alburnum ; though old hardened bark will not 

 swell up so quickly as the new bark on a young shoot. 



" 769. Disbursing." 1 have seen very fruitful trees covered every year 

 with blossoms so thickly that the greater part had to be brushed off, and the 

 trees very vigorous, where the outer bark had been renewed a few years before. 

 The situations, however, were sheltered ; the practice has not been much 

 adopted yet, and it is doubtful if it would suit exposed situations ; but for 

 sheltered places it appears to be very effectual in renovating the vigour of old 

 trees. It should be more often tried than it is. 



" 770. Ringing." It has been generally said that ringing of trees contributes 

 to fruitfulness by accumulating sap ; but it is not explained how this is done. 

 The wood being of more specific gravity above the ring is no proof of this, be- 

 cause it is denser from not having swelled out so much in bulk rather than from 

 accumulation of sap. The ring prevents the ascent as well as descent of the 

 sap ; and it more probably acts by furnishing a smaller quantity of sap, which 

 is more easily brought into a highly elaborated or organised condition than 

 the ordinary larger quantity would have been. 



" 771. Disbudding" Extent should be given to the wall tree to exhaust 

 itself by growth, and so bring on maturity. If the border is not too rich, this 

 should be better than tearing off' a great mass of breast-wood. More young 



