368 
FOREST TREES. 
that trees themselves observe, and practice, a system of pruning off 
useless branches, it must be a strong argument against any interference 
on the part of man, and especially if man be ignorant of the tree’s 
power of performing the work itself. 
I find it difficult to express my ideas sufficiently plain for the gener¬ 
al reader, at the same time, am anxious to make known to all, what 
I have observed in the nature of trees; and if my endeavours fall 
short of what I wish, still I have hopes that my observations may 
call the attention of some to the study of the subject. If those con¬ 
cerned in the growth of timber, would but apply themselves to the 
investigation of the nature of trees; disregarding any old-fashioned 
dogmas relative to their management, that may have been handed down 
to them, they would gain much more extensive information than it 
is possible to gain from a book. I, therefore, earnestly entreat the 
cultivators of timber, to apply themselves to the subject, which is 
now so little understood. 
There seems to be a singular want of knowledge, patiently endured, 
respecting the nature of trees. The investigations of the physiolo¬ 
gists are unfortunately confined too much to the internal organization 
of the sap vessels, and the motion of the sap, and not extended, so 
much as they should, to the rules, and circumstances that regulate 
the external form and developement of trees. As a proof of the great 
want of knowledge of the nature of trees, I need only instance, how 
little the necessity of selection of trees to be transplanted is, even at 
the present day, known, and that it was almost wholly unknown before 
the publication of Sir H. Steuart’s valuable book, the Planter’s Guide. 
But to return to the subject of natural pruning. A person who lias not 
contemplated the subject, will hardly believe that the number of sprays 
retained by a full grown tree, bear but a small proportion to the quantity 
that tree has, itself pruned off. Now to show that this must be the case, 
let us trace the growth of a tree—suppose an Oak, from the seed to 
maturity. The first year’s growth of a tree from the seed is, generally 
one perpendicular shoot; the second year, side branches are, most 
likely formed within a few inches of the ground; this to be sure, de¬ 
pends on the situation of the plant: but a young tree does not pro¬ 
ceed, at any rate, far, without side branches. These side branches 
are, each successive year, extended, and multiplied; so that by the 
time the tree has attained the height of eight or ten feet, it has many tiers 
of branches; extended and divided into numerous small sprays. The 
growth continues; the head, each years extends—the stem thickens— 
and, let us suppose the tree has reached the height of forty feet. We 
now find it covered with innumerable sprays, closely filling up the 
