Jievieu's cmd Extracts. — Horiicidture, <5c. 
407 
ferable to artificial; as the upper side-brauches of trees extend themselves over the 
lower ones, the latter dwindle away, and drop oft‘ from the boles of the trees, 
hence the term ‘ natural pruning’,’ 
“ The stems of forest trees seldom sustain any injury from the side-branches 
decaying, and dropping off in the natural way. In these cases, Nature provides 
antidotes for the seeming defects*, the branches decay gradually, and the stems of 
the trees increase in size proportionably. The decayed branches are ultimately 
pushed out, or pinched oft’by the increase of sound timber. The stems of the 
trees are then perfect in reality, and not deceptively so, as in artificial close 
pruning.” 
“Trees which do not grow from stubs, and have not been pruned and mangled, 
are called * maiden trees,’ in the timber trade, and are in high estimation with 
timber merchants, who reject close pruned trees. 
“The only rational excuse for pruning forest or hedge-row timber trees is, 
where they have over-luxuriant side-branches, which draw too much sap or nou¬ 
rishment from the stems, and do injury to the underwood in copses, and to bushes 
in hedge rows, and corn crops adjoining thereto. Such trees do sometimes require 
to be pruned, and that operation may be performed, and the desired effect obtained, 
without damaging the timber, or injuring the trees in any way, by the process 
called ‘fore-shortening,’ that is, by cutting off the tops of over-luxuriant branches 
immediately above where lateral shoots spring from them. 
“By this method of pruning, the currents of sap are checked and diverted from 
the strong side-branches into more profitable channels—the boles of trees j these 
increase in size in proportion to the extra quantity of sap thrown into them by 
pruning operations. The upper branches of the trees then expand wide, and 
overtop*ihe lower branches, which have been shortened; these dwindle and decay 
gradually, until they are ultimately pushed out of the stems, and pinched off, ns 
before described in the operation of natural pruning. 
“The branches should be shortened at a greater or less distance from the stems 
in proportion to the size; a due proportion of live branches should be left upon 
the stumps, sufficient to draw sap or nourishment in that direction, and thereby 
prevent the stumps from premature decay, and causing rot in the hearts of the 
trees.” 
4.—The Cottager’s Friendly Guide in Domestic Economy. 
Compiled for the use of the industrious poor, by An Economist. 
Price or 5.?. per doz. for general distribution. 
Perhaps at no age were the calls for benevolent and charitable exertions more 
loud than in the present day; so great, in many districts, is the depression amongst 
the labouring classes of society, that many an industrious man can scarcely, with 
all the economy he is master of, make both ends meet, or even in some cases, es¬ 
cape from real distress. Epidemic diseases rage around, and threaten at once, 
to sweep off the father or mother, or both, from the bosom of an infant family; 
and only by the intervention of Divine Providence in their behalf, through the 
means of the benevolent exertions of individuals, can the fatal effects be in any 
measure mitigated. With something of a view like this, we conceive, the author 
of this little work has taken up the matter, and brought together a fund of useful 
knowledge, on almost every thing essential to the welfare of the labouring poor. 
And if all those who have it in their power, would give this little book, and as far 
