Ornamental Planting. 



403 



year as the tree reaches upward in height. Wherever the limb is cut, 

 however, it shoukl be cut close to the trunk of the tree so the growing 

 layer may easily close over the wound. If even a short stub or knot 

 is left, this knot will die and the wound can not close over. Wounds 

 will perhaps heal more readily if the limbs are cut just at the time 

 growth is beginning in spring. This gives but a brief period for prun- 

 ing and where many trees are to be pruned, the work may be done in 

 winter when other farm work is not pressing. 



It is not well to remove very much of the leaf surface of the tree 

 by pruning in mid-summer. This stunts the growth of the tree. 



Severely cutting hack or deJwrning rapidly growing trees like the 

 water maple is a mistake. This is frequently done on the supposition 



..-»;^. 



Figure 6— Open lawn and effective planting. 



that such trees will break dowTi if their limbs are allowed to get long 

 and heavy. However, "breaking down" may be alleviated by shaping 

 the tree from the beginning so it will make a straight, upward, cen- 

 tral trunk rather than forming forks. Any tree which has opposite buds 

 like the maple is liable to form forks when the terminal bud at the 

 growing tip dies in winter. Such a fork may be corrected the first winter 

 after it forms, by cutting off one side of the fork, allowing the other 



