

PRUNING FIR-TREES. IQ$ 



ihg of which rules may easily he proved by measuring a chain 

 square, or any quantity of the land, and counting the trees 

 thereon ; then by trying- the height of two or three trees in 

 that quarter, and taking one fifth of such for the distance, 

 it would be readily seen how many trees should be contained 

 in the piece measured : or the practice may more simply be 

 regulated, by taking the distance of eight or ten trees added 

 together, the average of which should be equal to a fifth of 

 the height of the trees. 



In these rules nothing impracticable or complicated is pro- 

 posed. 



The author has for years known the expense and produce Produce of 

 from trimming only, and finds in Bedfordshire the produce trimmin € 

 iii i 1111 • more than 



doubly repays the expense; and although some expenmen- p a y S expense. 



talists may differ from him, or time may show some reason 

 for deviating somewhat from his rule, yet it is presumed all 

 will agree that some simple system is adviseable, instead of 

 having plantations and woods mismanaged, to the great loss 

 of the community and the proprietors. If such a system as 

 proposed be generally promulgated ; if not perfect, it will 

 most likely 5 in time, become so, and thereby have its ad- 

 vantage ; and that some advantage may be had in specula- 

 tion, the following concluding remarks are introduced. 



In the common course of gardening, it is understood, Pruning gar- 

 that pruning invigorates the tree; that trimming off' the side en rees * 

 branches makes the upright ones shoot the stronger, and by- 

 cutting out the dead and decayed wood the tree is kept 

 alive : some of this doctrine will certainly apply to the tribe 

 of firs; it will certainly substitute clean wood for knots, and 

 of all this treatment, from their particular uses, they of all 

 other trees stand in most need, and will be most improved 

 by it. And should it be admitted, that like treatment would Advantage of 

 on the fir, as well as other trees, produce the like effect, it prum " s irs * 

 would lead to a well-grounded expectation, that, as well as 

 producing clearness from knots, straight n ess, and length, the 

 same operation would advance the quality nearer to that of 

 foreign fir; for it may be traced, that where trees are tall 

 and clear of boughs or knots, the whole substance of the 

 wood is better and of finer grain> and it appears likely, that 

 such will always be the case : the reason may probably be 



inferred 



