PRUNING PUREST TREES. 
1 17 
* Ophrys speculum . two feet. 
* Osmunda spectabilis. 
It will be seen, that, in the foregoing list, we have only selected 
such plants, as when in flower, make a splendid shew on the borders; 
in our next, we propose to give a selection of Green-house Biennials 
and Perennials, for a guide to those who wish to have a choice col¬ 
lection. 
Jos. Paxton. 
Chatsivorth. Jan. 12/A, 1833. 
ARBORICULTURE. 
ARTICLE V.—ON PRUNING FOREST TREES. 
BY GEORGE. 
There is an error very generally prevalent in terming the Fir, 
which we see in most plantations, the “ Spruce Fir,” whilst properly 
it is onlv the Fir, or common Fir. * This bears cones five or six 
inches long at the tops of the trees; the spruce fir, on the contrary, 
bears cones similar in size to those of the larch, and much after the 
same manner. The foliage also of the spruce fir is closer, thicker, 
and rounder than that of the common fir. In North America they 
distinguish two kinds of the spruce : the black (I think it is) and the 
red; of these, one, f I am not sure which, is used in making spruce 
beer, and the common fir is never used for that purpose. Your face¬ 
tious correspondent, Mr. Howden, vol. 1. page 641, derides the ap¬ 
pearance of a tree which feathers down to the ground, he wishes to 
see such a pyramid set upon a pillar like that of Pompey in Egypt, 
and in the same spirit he ridicules Lord Bathurst’s beautiful lime 
trees. Where profit alone is to be considered, I have not a word to 
say against his principle, but to my taste there is not, in a plantation 
or pleasure ground, a more handsome object than a common fir, thirty 
or fortv feet high, and feathered down to the ground. Where a tree 
of this kind of growth is desired, a fine healthy one must be selected, 
and the trees all round it, cut in every year for several years, so that 
no branch or twig may touch it. Although it will not endure being 
* This is the Abeis communis or Norway Spruce, it differs 
from the common Fir of North America, which is the A. alba— 
Con d. 
f The Abies nigra or Black Spruce.— Cond. 
