THEORY OF CLOSE PRUNING. 



89 



shoot and branch and considerable winter amputa- 

 tions are the consequences. Long pruning, on the 

 whole, wastes the vitality of the tree by producing 

 much needless wood. All recent experience points 

 to a modification of this system, which shall form 

 my next subject. 



No. 13. — Theory of Close Pruning. 



The history of this part of our subject is somewhat 

 obscure, and, though interesting in itself, a brief 

 notice will suffice. The present style is, no doubt, 

 only a revival of what had been touched upon by 

 Keith in this country, and De La Quintinie in 

 France, nearly at the same time — that is about 150 

 years ago. For a certain period no progress seems 

 to have been made, though the matter was freely 

 discussed in both countries. We may, therefore, 

 take the late Mr. Knight, a very competent 

 authority, as a fair exponent of closer pruning in 

 more recent times. The passage is quoted by 

 Mcintosh, and is as follows : — " Instead of taking 

 off so large a portion of the young shoots, and 

 training-in a few only to a considerable length, as 

 is usually done, as I should myself do in every 

 favourable situation, I preserve a large number of 

 young shoots which are emitted in the early spring 

 by the yearling wood, shortening each where 



