FOREST TREES. 
367 
ARTICLE XII. 
ON THE NATURAL SHEDDING OF THE SPRAYS OF FOREST-TREES. 
An Extract made on Reviewing a Treatise on the Nature of Trees, and the Pru¬ 
ning of Timber Trees; showing the impossibility of increasing the Quantity 
and improving the Quality of Timber by Pruning. 
by Stephen ballard. —12rao. 2s.—67 Pages. 
Mr. Ballard is a sensible'and intelligent writer, and reasons very 
judiciously on the advantages of the system he advocates. The 
Work is divided into seven chapters; the first of which treats on the 
Nature of Trees, wherein is stated the power of trees to evade the 
force of the wind.—Balancing boughs.—Property of assuming the 
best shape, &c. 
Chapter 2nd. — On the Natural Shedding of Sprays.— 
“Trees have the power of pruning themselves; all useless branches 
die, and drop off. In many kinds of trees, the quantity of branches 
thus disposed of during the time a tree is coming to maturity, is 
much greater than the quantity retained, when at maturity. This 
may, to some persons, seem unlikely ; but let it be considered, that 
the circumference of the head of a tree, proceeds almost from a point; 
and that the extremities of the branches have been, at some part of 
the tree’s life, in every part of the space within the limits of the space 
occupied by the head of the tree when at maturity. And let it be 
remembered how close the twigs, or small sprays, are situated to each 
other round the head of a tree; and observe how close the whole inside 
space, within the extremities of the branches, would be filled, had all 
these small sprays remained on. If this be well considered, some 
idea may be formed, of the immense number of sprays pruned off in 
this natural way, by means of this power of discontinuing sprays in 
such situations as are no longer suitable; and of the advantage the tree 
has of forming itself in the best possible shape for its situation. 
Let the pruner, before he commences his attack upon a tree, observe 
that its branches are selected, or chosen, from a number many times 
as great as the quantity left, and that they are the selected few 
found by experience to be well situated. If he pause and consider 
this but a little while, he will be humbled, the insufficiency of his 
judgment will appear, and he will estimate his abilities more accord¬ 
ing to their value. 
I fear that my attempts to show the existence of this natural 
pruning, may not, to many, appear sufficiently clear; and, therefore, 
I will endeavour to explain more fully; for certainly if it be shown 
