392 On Priitiinq Forest Trees. 
growth of the bark will cover in a year or two, to protect the wood 
from the atmosphere; and even then, when the trees are cut, bad 
knots will appear. It is a mistaken idea, that by pruning, you accele- 
rate the growth of trees : for more than twenty years I have witnessed 
its bad effects. The tree that is left to Nature, invariably increases 
faster than one subject to lopping and pruning. I do not condemn 
cutting off the very small twigs which shoot off in a lateral direction 
from the stem, to give a more sightly appearance ; but I do protest 
against pruning for the purpose of improving the growth. Jf you de- 
prive a tree of its leaves or mouths, the roots are unable to obtain that 
which enables them to perform their functions. Nature is true to 
herself. The single tree sends out its branches to catch and inhale 
everything conducive to its productive powers. Where trees are 
thickly planted, Nature directs them upwards, to obtain that which 
their situation prevents their getting in a lower medium ; consequently, 
you observe the lower boughs are thin and weak within, and fall off, 
whilst in a young healthy tree, the topmost shoots exhibit vigour, and 
will make more wood upwards in a given time, than trees that stand 
singly; and hence, the great length that trees obtain in woods." 
Another correspondent offers the following remarks: — "The advo- 
cates for pruning pretend, that by cutting off what they are pleased to 
call superfluous branches, you occasion the trunk to sw^ll, and the 
tree to thrive in a great degree more than it would if let alone." 
"This idea," says Miller,* "is erroneous, for every one knows, 
or ought to know, that the branch of a tree, with its foliage, contri- 
butes as much to its nourishment and support as the root itself. Let 
any one," says the above quoted author, "take the trouble of trying 
the experiment upon tv/o trees of equal age and size, by lopping one 
of them, and suffering all the branches on the other to grow^ and he 
will soon find the latter to exceed the former in growth every way." 
Mr. Nathaniel Kent, who wrote the "Survey of Norfolk," speak- 
ing of pruning, designates it "an infamous custom,," and adds, "when 
a plant is very young, it is sometimes allowable to a certain distance, 
but should always be done with caution ; but when trees have begun 
to form themselves, it is a sort of murder. It stops the growth, and 
produces extreme deformity ; for the sap, in the spring of the year, 
being checked in its natural diffusion into the number of branches into 
which it used to flow becomes distorted. 
" ' As knots, by conflux of the meeting sap, 
" 'Infect the sound pine, and divert his grain, 
" 'Tortive and errant from his course of growth.' — Sha/cspeare.'" 
* Tl<r celpbiated Author of tlip " Gardener's Dictionary," (folio,) and Curator of the Gardens 
of the Ariolhec ;iiies' Company. He was born in 1691. and died in 1771. 
