PT. IV. 



PRUNIJS'G AND THIOTING. 



185 



PART IV. 



PRUNING AND THINNING. 



Doubtless, in ornamental grounds, every variety of For beauty 



' -vve should 



growth should be encouraged ; and doubtless, every vaHetTo? 

 variety of growth can be attained by gradually and 

 constantly cutting out all growth except in the direc- 

 tion required. To prove this, we have only to observe 

 our wall-fruit trees, and tlie forms of animals, arches, 

 &c., into which trees are cut. 



In trees, whether for beauty or profit, no attribute Trees can- 

 IS more to be admn-ed or desn^ed than height. But it their 



° maximum 



is probable that by nature, that is, without pruning, natSe-^ 

 trees can never attain the maximum height of which w'ithout 

 they are capable if pruned. prumn^. 



In the shelter of timber- woods, from want of room 

 for then- roots, and from want of all side-boughs, trees 

 in general grow weakly, and do not attain their maxi- 

 mum height in a minimum time, if ever. On the 

 other hand, single trees, which have plenty of room 

 for their roots, and even coppice-wood trees, from ex- 

 posure, or from the quantity of light all round them, 

 generally go more to side-branches than to height ; 

 but in sheltered situations, with good soils, I have no 



