160 MANAGEMENT OF WOODS. 



to experience against those who object to pruning 

 firs, on account of the large quantity of sap which 

 exudes, or their bleedings as it is very aptly termed, 

 not pretending that it would not be hurtful to the 

 tree, but merely contradicting the fact of such 

 bleeding ever taking place. " A little of that 

 much neglected article, experience," he says, would 

 teach them, or any others," (meaning his opponents), 

 " that if a branch were cut off while alive, the sap- 

 vessels would send out resinous matter enough to 

 seal up the wound in a way infinitely superior to 

 human ingenuity." Notwithstanding Mr PoN- 

 tey's boasted experience, however, the fact hap- 

 pens to be, that no such sealing up as he contends 

 for ever takes place. The resin that distils from 

 the wound does indeed congeal on it in cold wea- 

 ther; and it would seem to have been in such 

 weather only that Mr Pontey gathered his expe- 

 rience of the effects of pruning firs. But no sooner 

 does a day of warm sunshine occur, than it melts, 

 runs down the bark, and leaves the wound as open 

 as ever. A new discharge takes place in conse- 

 sequence, which congeals and melts in its turn ; and 

 thus the process goes on, draining off and wasting 



by degrees the very life-blood of the tree. The re- 

 1 



