Part IV.] 
PRUNING AND THINNING. 
211 
which have plenty of room for their roots, and 
even coppice-wood trees, from exposure, or from 
the quantity of light all round them, generally 
go more to side-branches than to height; but in 
sheltered situations, with good soils, I have no 
doubt that, by early and gradual pruning, single 
trees might be trained to much greater heights 
than we see at present. 
When this was so stated in the first edition, 
an anonymous friend wrote, “ The works of God 
cannot be improved by man.” I differ. I think 
that the works of God can be improved by man. 
I think that God as much intended his works to 
be improved by man, as he intended us to im¬ 
prove ourselves. Are the glorious gifts of the 
Creator, the products of the farm, the kitchen- 
garden, and the flower-garden, not improved by 
man ? Are our domestic animals not improved 
by man ? Is the European man no better than 
the Bosjeman? If so, we give ourselves and 
children much pains for nothing. I believe that 
God has made man in general an instrument to 
perfect the terrestrial treasures of his creation, 
for man’s own advantage ; and that to some 
God has imparted the highest possible enjoy¬ 
ment in eliciting, improving , and displaying the 
p 2 
The works of 
God can be 
improved by 
man. 
