](j2 pruning fir-trees. 



Rules for From some years observations on pruning and the effects 



°' thereof, it appears certain, that Fir trees, at a certain age, 



should be pruned to a certain height; and for regulating 

 thereof, the following simple rule is recommended. The 

 pruning to commence when the trees are six years old, or 

 when there is discernible five tiers of boughs and the shoot ; 

 the three lower tiers of boughs are then to be taken off. 

 After this first pruning, the trees to be let alone for four or 

 five years, and then, and at every succeeding four or five 

 years, the pruning to be repeated, till the stem of the tree 

 is clear to forty feet high, after which, as to pruning, it may 

 be left to nature. The rule for the height of pruning, after 

 the first time, to be half the extreme height of the tree, till 

 they attain twenty years growth ; and after that time, half 

 the height of the tree, and as many feet more as it is inches 

 in diameter at four feet from the ground. This pruning is 

 known from repeated observations not to be excessive; and 

 the rule is calculated to check the too tapering top, and 

 strengthen the slender bottom, by earning the pruning to 

 a greater proportionate degree, in a ratio compounded of 

 the height and bottom bulk ; and by this rule it may be ob- 

 served, that the trees will be at top clothed with somewhat 

 less than half their branches. The proper time for pruning 

 is between September and April, and the tool to be used, the 

 saw. 

 Thtnniug. Orderly thinning the trees at certain periods is the next 



essential to pruning, and for this purpose observations have 

 been made on the most orderly aud thriving plantations, and 

 the following simple rule is recommended. Keep the dis- 

 tance of the trees from each other equal to one fifth of their 

 height. In the application of this rule for thinning, it is 

 evident, that each individual tree can never be made to com- 

 ply ; for the original distance (even if planted in the most 

 regular order) will allow only of certain modifications, by 

 taking out every other tree, and so on ; but even if the ob- 

 taining such equal distance was practicable, experience would 

 show that another way should be preferred, of which the eye 

 must be the judge, by taking out such trees as are least 

 thriving, stand nearest another good tree, &c. ; at the 

 same time keeping in view the rules prescribed : the follow- 

 ing 



