120 



PRUNING. 



ward a number of feet below the section, and soon 

 afterward decay, leaving a hole in the bole. 



As nothing retards the growth of trees more than 

 full flowering and seeding, if pruning diminish this 

 flowering and seeding, so that the gain from the pre- 

 vention of this exhaustion more than counterbalances 

 the loss of the pruned-ofF part, the pruning will of 

 course accelerate the growth of the tree ; but the re- 

 moval of lower branches, although in the first place 

 promotive of growing buds and extension of the top, 

 in a year or two longer only tends to throw the tree 

 more into flowering and seeding. The rich dryness, 

 or want of fluidity of the juices which occasions flower- 

 buds, is also induced by hot, dry atmosphere, and 

 short supply of moisture from the roots dm'ing the 

 preceding summer, both of which disposing causes 

 are increased by a long naked stem, When the 

 proportion of the part above ground of a tree to the 

 roots is diminished, growing buds result, at least to a 

 certain extent ; yet it would be very difficult to prac- 

 tise a proper system of pruning on this principle, 

 as the consequent lengthened stem is, in the end, 

 promotive of flower- buds, especially in dry seasons, 

 and the loss of feeders might greatly counterbalance 

 the gain from not flowering, did a succession of wet 

 cold seasons follow. 



