246 PRUNING. 



required is to lop off the offending branches without 

 imparting to the tree a mutilated, unnatural appear- 

 ance, to cut each branch so as to leave the part re- 

 maining upon the tree in such a state as sufficiently to 

 elaborate the sap and maintain its vitality. In the 

 operation itself, sometimes the saw and spokeshave, 

 and sometimes the pruning - chisel, is used ; but in 

 either case the greatest skill is required in amputating 

 the branch in such a manner as to be altogether 

 unobserved. 



In this department of pruning, as in most others, 

 no positive definite rule can be laid down as appli- 

 cable to all cases, since the entire execution of the work 

 depends upon the taste and skill of the operator. We 

 always cut either close to the trunk of the tree, and 

 dress and paint the knot so as to avoid observation, or 

 cut at such a considerable distance from it as to secure 

 and maintain vitality in the branch, and preserve the 

 symmetry and outline of the tree. 



In amputating a large LLmb, we always endeavour to 

 do so within an inch or so of a smaller branch ; and 

 thus many a noble tree is prevented from falling a 

 victim to the woodman's axe, or being subjected to a 

 tortuous mutilation. It is unaccountable how pro- 

 prietors of cultivated minds and refined taste can 

 tolerate the unskilful and distasteful manner in which 

 handsome and often noble trees are so outrageously 

 disfigured by unscientific and inartistic pruning. But, 

 as already remarked, this instance of pruning is not 

 performed with a view to improve or benefit the tree, 

 but simply for other and yet very important reasons. 



In the case of large branches growing upon one side 

 of a tree, such branches, from being disproportionately 

 large, attract an undue amount of nourishment to 



