86 



rules are simple, and they are applicable 

 alike to the nursery plant and to the 

 largest timber tree. Keep a clear leader. 

 Cut off' all branches large enough to 

 compete with the stem, or which grow 

 parallel to it. Shrive the stem up one 

 third of its height. Cut all close to the 

 stem. With the above exceptions, a tree 

 cannot have too many branches, as the 

 returning sap of each contributes to the 

 growth in diameter of alt that part of the 

 stem which is below it, and to the growth 

 of the root both in length and diameter. 

 But pruning, like thinning a plantation, 

 cannot be too gradual. It should be 

 annual. 



In counties where it is the practice to 

 shrive the hedge-row trees, their branch- 

 less stems are ascended by means of spikes 

 at the sides of the feet. In the East, palms 

 are ascended, to inoculate the flower and 

 to gather the fruit, by placing the feet 

 against the stem, and the back against a 



