PRUNING FOREST TREES.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1832, 6 January 1880, Page 3

PRUNING FOREST TREES.

A. J. Burrowes, in the “Journal of Forestry,” says that pruning, though it may lessed the actual produce of wood, increases the more valuable dimensions of timber, by directing the energies of the roots, &0., to its formation.

2. It enables ns to produce the largest crop of timber upon the smallest area. 3 It lessens the tffect of shade, both upon the underwood and upon other crops. 4. By admitting a freer and better circulation of air among the boles it checks the growth of mosses and lichens. 5. It gives greater lengths to the trunks, and produces timber of a better quality and of a cleaner grain. C. The judicious pruning of side branches prevents stag-bcadedness, with its attendant evil of decay extending down the trunk. 7. Pruning prevents ac:idents from the browsing of cattle, from winds and falls of snow, as well as from excessive weight of foliage, 8. The foreshortening of the lower branches directs more sap to the b( al, thereby maintaining the vigor of the tree. 9- It permits the growth of underwood close up to the boles. 10. By timely pruning an equal quantity of good timber can be grown in aboat twothirds the usual time.

11. A timely lightening of the head, or such a pruning as will enable it to maintain its equilibrium, prevents shakes. 12 Upon coniferous trees the pruning back of deal aid dying side braiches gives soundness and freedom from all knots to all succeeding annual growths of the wood. 13. The close and continuous pruning of elms imparts to the timber that gnarled cha racter which, by preventing splitting, makes it so valuable for the knaves of wheels and other purposes. 14, A careful thinning or pruning of underwood stools increases the general weight as well as the value of their produce.