monteath's forester's guide. 151 



cular kind of timber may be required, it is highly 

 useful : but the cutting off and diminishing the num- 

 ber of lower feeders, thence deterring the growth of 

 the tree, and encouraging the superior feeders to 

 push up as leaders; or to increase in size so as to ren- 

 der their removal, should it be necessary, dangerous to 

 the health of the tree, and the upper part of the stem 

 useless from large knots (a practice which in nine 

 cases out of ten is followed), cannot be sufficiently 

 reprobated. In pruning, every means should be 

 taken to increase the number of feeders, in order 

 that none of them may become too large ; and no 

 healthy regular feeder should be lopped off till the 

 tree has reached the required height of stem, and a 

 sufficient top above this for the purpose of growth ; 

 at which time the feeders upon the stem, as far up 

 as this necessary height, may be removed *. 



Mr Monteath states that Scots fir should not be 

 thinned to greater distance than 20 feet apart, and 

 larch 15 feet. This shews very little consideration : 

 the distance apart necessary for these kinds of tim- 

 ber, and of all other kinds, must be relative to the 

 soil, situation and climate, and the intentions of 

 the owner, whether he means to bring them soon to 



* This repetition of our directions on pruning is iatentionai — 

 Carthago est delenda." 



