164 MANAGEMENT OF WOODS. 



mischief in future, the present publication will not 

 add to the number of those volumes which are en- 

 tirely useless to mankind. 



With the exception of firs, I am acquainted 

 with no kind of trees that may not derive more or 

 less benefit from pruning, provided it be applied in 

 a proper manner, and under due restrictions. To 

 speak of it in this conditional form is necessary ; 

 for it may be, and often is, gone about in such an 

 absurd way as to be productive of harm instead of 

 good. 



Every pruner understands that the object of 

 pruning is to render the stem or trunk of the tree 

 as tall and clean as possible, but few pruners seem 

 to understand that mode of applying the process, 

 which is most conducive for promoting this object. 

 Many of them, in operating upon a young tree, pro- 

 ceed in nearly the same manner as if they were prepa- 

 ring it to serve the purpose of a fishing-rod or a walk- 

 ing-stick. Beginning with the branches next the 

 ground, they clean all off before them to within a 

 little of the top, and, with the exception of a few 

 shoots there left, the plant is rendered as twigless 

 as an osier willow in the hands of a basket-maker. 

 They call this dressi7ig, but undressing would be 

 a far more appropriate term ; for the unfortunate 



