OF FOREST-TREES. 



175 



sparing great lops, cutting clean, smooth, and close, making the stroke CHAP. II. 

 upward, and with a sharp bill, so as the weight of an untractable bough ^"^^^^ 

 do not splice and carry the bark with it, which is both dangerous and 

 unsightly. The Oak will suffer itself to be made a pollard ; that is, to 

 have its head quite cut off, and it may be good for mast, if not too much 

 pruned, but not for timber : but the Elm so treated, will perish to the 

 foot ; and certainly become hollow at last, if it escape with life. 



The proper season for this work is, for old trees earlier, for young 

 later, as a little after the change in January or February ; some say in 

 December, the wind in a gentle quarter ; 



. Turn stringe comas, turn brachia tonde : 



■ Turn denrque dura 



Exerce imperia, et ramos compesce fluentes. georg. ii. 



But this ought not to be too much in young fruit-trees, after they once 

 come to form a handsome head ; in which period you should but once 

 pare them over about JMarch, to cover the stock the sooner, if the tree 

 be very choice. To the aged, this is plainly a renewing of their youth, 

 and an extraordinary refreshment, if taken in time, and that their arms be 

 not suffered to grow too great and large ; in which case, the member 



must not be amputated too near the body, but at some distance nepars 



sincera trahatur : and remember to cut smooth, and sloping upwards, 

 if upright boughs, otherwise downwards ; and be sure to emplaster great 

 wounds to keep out the wet, and hasten the covering of the bark : 

 besides, for interlucation, remove exuberant branches, et sjjissce nemorum 

 comcB, where the boughs grow too thick and are cumbersome, to let in 

 the sun and air. This is of great importance ; and so is the sedulous 

 taking away of suckers, water-boughs, fretters, &c. and for the benefit 

 of tall timber, the due stripping up the branches, and rubbing off the 

 buds to the heights you require. Yet some do totally forbear the Oak, 

 especially if aged, observing that they much exceed in growth such as 

 are pruned ; and in truth, such trees as we would leave for shade and 

 ornament, should be seldom cut, but the browse-wood cherished and 

 preserved as low towards the ground as may be, for a more venerable 

 and solemn shade ; and, therefore, I did much prefer the walk of Elms in 

 St. James's Park, as it lately grew branchy, interminghng their reverend 



Z2 



