234 PRUNING. 



and though the tree, when cut over, may be 6 to 8 

 feet high at the time, yet in two or three years after- 

 wards (if the tree is healthy) a young sapling will 

 have taken its place, which, though not so strong, will 

 be nearly, if not quite, as tall as the original tree, more 

 handsome, more healthy, and better directed in its 

 upward growth. From this the most promising shoot 

 is selected for the future tree, choosing always that 

 which is lowest down upon the stool. If, however, 

 as is frequently the case, hares or rabbits are to be 

 dreaded, we cut the tree over at a point above their 

 reach, and immediately below where a year's growth 

 terminates, and where few branches exist. A very 

 common occurrence in this case is, that a quantity of 

 spray is formed immediately below the cut, particularly 

 if the tree is at aU unhealthy or of stinted growth. 

 Trees thus operated upon in winter and spring should 

 always be again gone over in the succeeding June or 

 July, and all superfluous shoots broken off with the 

 hand, which is better than the knife in ordinary cases. 



This kind of pruning is seldom necessary except in 

 high and exposed situations ; but under such circum- 

 stances we have often adopted it with , the greatest 

 success. 



6. Though oak-trees of the best varieties seldom 

 produce branches forming an acute angle with the 

 stem, yet they do so occasionally — even the true 

 QuBTcus rohur, whose branches proverbially grow at 

 almost right angles with the trunk, is in some cases 

 thus affected. Since, then, we find nature producing 

 branches of this description upon trees — and trees 

 thus grown are almost useless for ship- and boat- 

 building purposes, at least unless timeously pruned — 

 art must therefore assist nature, by guiding her in the 



