I have elsewhere given my opinion very freely on the subject of pruning, but as it will be necessary just to glance at it, in connection with Hedge-row Timber, I will again take the Oak, which is almost the only tree that I would recommend for hedges. As this noble tree will naturally grow of a bush-like shape, when standing alone, it is absolutely necessary that it be pruned, or it will not acquire sufficient length of stem. I am not, therefore, the wholesale condemner of pruning, even of Hedge-row Trees, but I would have no pruning done after they had arrived at a certain age—say, twenty years: all work of this kind should be done during the _infancy_ of the tree, or not at all. I would much sooner _cut down a tree, if it had not sufficient length of bole_, and trust to the chance of raising a better _from its stool_, than take off _large branches, particularly if it was not over thirty years of age_. Indeed the former method of repairing the mischief of long neglect, appears to me as one peculiarly adapted to the circumstances in which some estates are placed, as to the timber; and I should not hesitate to adopt it upon an extensive scale. I have, in fact, seen many estates where I should cut down Oaks very freely, which have _not_ length of bole, or which, from some cause or other, are _not healthy_; even though they might not produce timber enough to pay for the cost of cutting. There are estates within less than two hours ride of my residence, which are _apparently_ well stocked with timber, but it is of such quality that, were it under my own management, I should instantly cut it down; and from a large proportion of the stools I should train up a new race of trees. These would, if well attended to, grow into a class and quality of timber, very little, if at all, inferior to maiden trees; while, on the other hand, from those which are standing, _whatever length of time they may remain_, nothing can be expected, but a _small quantity of timber, and that of middling quality_. But to return to _pruning_. In a Wood, or a Plantation, trees will draw up each other to a certain length, and many of the lateral branches, from the exclusion of light and air, will die, and some of them will fall off; this is, of course, _natural_ pruning: but in a Hedge-row, they have no such help, they will, therefore, require _artificial_ pruning; which should commence at the time of planting, and continue until it can be seen that they will assuredly acquire ample length of bole. The kind of pruning which is here advocated _cannot possibly do any harm, if it be well done_, and done at a proper season. The soundness of an Oak will in no degree be impaired by it; and consequently, it will be, on all accounts, more serviceable for naval purposes, than if it were not pruned; for it will not surely be contended, that clearness of grain, and length of stem, are not likely to recommend it to the ship-builder. So far from having