\Q0 PRUNING FIR-TREES. 



small increase of wood for the last 6 years, that it was not 

 then healthy. 



Section I. A dead knot* from a bough broke off at G years 

 growth ; since which 25 years growth of wood have formed 

 on the trunk, without nearly covering the stump ; this stump 

 was broken off before representation. 



Fig. 7. is a horizontal section of three other knots cut from 

 the same round as figure 6, showing the great obstruction to 

 the growth of the tree round the knots : this also explains the 

 cause of the great liollow round the knot in fig. 6. 



The knot at K is a most striking and undeniable proof of 

 the impropriety of leaving the smallest bough for nature's 

 disposal. This bough protruded beyond the tree some dis- 

 tance, and evidently never existed but in a stagnant state, 

 for the last twenty-nine years ; it being only two years old 

 when it so became stagnant. 



Fig. 8. A piece of the same tree as fig. 6 and 7 ; but from 

 the next higher tier of boughs, having a small piece wasted 

 between the two. 



Section L. Two small boughs, the upper one only one 

 year's growth, was twenty years before covered, and has nine 

 years wood over it. The lower bough is of six years growth, 

 was twenty years before covered, and has four years wood 

 over it. 

 Perfection of On contemplating these specimens; considering the pur- 

 * ir - poses that fir timber is generally applied to, and having some 



knowledge of plantations of this sort, it must occur, that 

 clearness of knots, straightness, length and equal size of its 

 trunk, constitute its perfection ; and, if deficient in all these, 

 it is of no value but for the fire. Next to these considerations, 

 and the prospect of an improved knowledge of cultivating 

 this article, it may be a fair question, if our own country is 

 not capable of producing fir timber little or not at all inferior 

 to the foreign fir. 

 Fir may be At present firs in this country appear not for any period to 



produced here h av e l>ecn considered much otherways than as ornamental. 

 su (erior to fo- For * n ' s purpose they serve but for a certain time, which 

 rei^u. past, it has been their fat r : to be cut down long before having 



attained maturity. But from the vast plantations now esta- 

 blished, it is to be hoped, that another century may obtain- 

 to 



