122 HEDGE-ROW TIMBER. 
their length; and the same method is recommended in deal- 
ing with all luxuriant side-branches throughout the tree, the 
progness of such branches being impeded, in a greater or less 
degree, in proportion to the distance from the extremities at 
which they are cut. By- this treatment the principal flow of 
sap will be directed into the proper channel, which will 
greatly increase the height of the trunk; and the remaining 
portions of the side branches may be removed close from the 
trunk in after years, when they will occasion no blemish in 
the timber, they being still of small diameter. September is 
the best month for pruning, in general, as then the wounds 
are immediately healed by the descending sap. The timber 
of detached trees is generally hard and good, and if cleanly 
grown by being early and judiciously pruned, it commonly 
sells at as high a price per cubical foot of measurable timber 
as clean timber grown in a forest. But if it is coarse, with 
large knots, or mutilated by the removal of large branches, 
the value is often depreciated forty per cent. In some dis- 
tricts the value of hedge-row timber is often reduced one-half 
by the mischievous practice of nailing paling to trees to save 
the trouble of inserting stakes. It almost invariably happens 
that the nails become imbedded in the timber, and frequently 
no external mark gives evidence of the circumstance, and it 
is only discovered when the carpenter’s tool comes in contact 
with the iron in cutting up the timber. Owners of timber, 
and those who have charge of estates, should guard against 
this evil wherever it is practised. 
