212 
PRUNING AND THINNING. 
[Part IV. 
To grow valua¬ 
ble timber 
maximum head 
on maximum 
height of 
branchless 
stem. 
Rules for prum 
ing for height. 
beauties of his creation, quite distinct from any 
mercenary or selfish ends of their own. 
It is true that one life will not accomplish 
much. But that we can do little is not a reason 
for doing less, or nothing at all. One year’s 
pruning, by destroying competing leaders, may 
destroy what would for ever have vitiated the 
growth of the tree. Ten years’ pruning might 
leave Nature a sketch to fill up, such as she 
could not have accomplished without the aid of 
man. Haply, also, others may take up the run¬ 
ning when we succumb. 
To grow valuable timber, we should not only 
aim at a maximum height of branchless stem, 
but a maximum head on a maximum height of 
branchless stem ; for in proportion to the 
quantity of head will be the quantity of its 
downward deposit, or increase of the girthing 
of the stem. 
For pruning trees to grow to their greatest 
possible height, the rules are simple, and they 
are applicable alike to the nursery plant and to 
the largest timber-tree : Keep a clear leader. 
Cut off all branches large enough to compete 
with the stem, or which grow parallel to it. 
Shrive the stem up one third of its height. Cut 
all close to the stem. With the above excep- 
