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the stump which is left should then be cut away, first securing it in 

 the same manner and lowering and supporting its weight by the rope 

 while cutting. 



Begin the cutting of the stump by making a cut with the saw on 

 its underside, and thru finish by cutting quite close to the main stem 

 from above. As soon as the branch is removed, the chisel should be 

 used to clean and smooth the surface of the wound, Avhich should then 

 be covered with a coating of coal tar. 



The object in cutting the branch close in to the stem, is to enable 

 the tree to heal the wound by a growth of cambium from its edges, 

 which will eventually cover and secure it from the weather. If a 

 stump is left, it will assuredly die back, and the dead wood remaining 

 in its centre will prevent the cambium from growing and covering 

 up the wound. Smoothing with the chisel prevents the lodgment of 

 water, and the coating of coal tar preserves the wood by keeping oflf 

 the spores of microscopie fungi which cause decay. The cut should 

 always be made in a sloping direction, so as to shed any water that 

 may fall upon it. 



In the Herbarium of the department is a specimen of wood taken 

 from a tree, from which a branch had been cut in this manner in the 

 time of my predecessor, Mr. Prestoe, the wood of which is quite sound. 

 After healing the cut has been covered with a growth of six inches 

 of solid wood. 



This is represented in the following line diagram : — 



Line Diagram showing the principle of pruning, to be adopted 

 to allow of wounds healing over. 



