PLANK. 



11 



of the plant). You also, by diminishing the num- 

 ber of feeders, increase the comparative size of those 

 remaining, which throws the upper part of the stem 

 into large knots, improper for plank, and renders 

 their futm*e excision dangerous, as large feeders, 

 when circumstance or decay require their removal, or, 

 when they are rifted off by ^\inds or snow, leave 

 wounds which often carry corruption into the core 

 of the tree. 



After the tree has acquired a sufficient height of 

 bole for plank, say from 20 to 60 feet, according to 

 circumstance of exposure, cHmate, 5cc., and also as 

 many branches above this height as may be thought 

 necessary to carry on advantageously the vital func- 

 tions, as the superior head will now sustain small in- 

 jury by being thrown out into large branches and 

 plurality of leaders, (if it be oak it will become more 

 valuable by affording a number of small crooks and 

 knees) ; it will then be proper, in order to have tim- 

 ber as clean as possible, and regidarly flexible, to 

 lop clean off all the branches on the stem as far up 

 as this requu'ed height. From the early attention 

 to procm-e very numerous feeders, and to prevent 

 any from attaining large size, the wounds will very 

 soon be closed over, leaving no external scar, and as 

 little as possible of internal knot or breaking off of 



