PLANTING SHADE AND ORNAMENTAL TREES. 113 



of trees and their habit of growth. We cannot have any arbitrary rules, 

 but we can all see the mistakes and folly of planting too closely. And 

 then, instead of thinning out, cutting off the branches thirty feet or more 

 to let in light and air and destroying the symmetry of the tree. In 

 street-tree pruning our object should be to encourage the natural char- 

 acteristics of the tree to its fullest extent. 



Park trees are planted for the double purpose of giving ample shade 

 and enhancing the beauty of the landscape, and the pruning of such 

 trees is done, if possible, on lines which will tend in these directions. 



The pruning of trees in their more advanced stages should be done 

 by or under the direction of one who is conversant with the natural 

 form of growth of the varieties treated, as well as the proper method 

 of performing the work. Before beginning he should study on and 

 decide what branches are necessary to remove to give proper balance, 

 or it may be to try and forestall and prevent injury by storm, shorten- 

 ing or lightening some of the limbs, or the removal of those which are 

 crossing or crowding others, shutting out sunlight and air. At the same 

 time neither overdoing or neglecting to remove what he knows should 

 be done now, not leaving it for the future. 



There are two ways of doing most things — the right and wrong. The 

 right way to prune a tree is not the easiest, for a branch should be 

 cut close to the parent tree, or branch, so that the future healing or 

 barking over will become less of an effort to nature. VvTiere a bough is 

 of any size it should always be cut upwards as far as possible, and then 

 downward. This will prevent splitting and the stripping of bark. The 

 edges of the cut should be smoothed with a sharp knife or chisel, when 

 jagged, and if of any size, say an inch in diameter, should be painted to 

 prevent rotting or the encroachment of insects. It is well the color 

 should correspond with the color of the bark, and is usually composed 

 of lead, oil and lampblack or graphite and oil. 



It may be well in conclusion to say that the selection of good stock 

 for planting is of the utmost importance. They should be clean and 

 smooth-barked, of vigorous growth, not stunted, nursery grown; which 

 will insure good roots with more fibre, and where it is possible to be, 

 home grown, which means a great deal in our state, where acclimation 

 and the more hardy varieties will be assured by men of known integrity. 



In connection with this subject, the propagation of many species of 

 trees might be done by nuts and seeds, at a small cost. Most of these 

 may be had for the gathering. Among which are oak, hickory, hack- 

 berry, ash, maple, etc., and these could be sown on rough hillsides and 

 gullies, worthless for almost anything but the raising of trees; and 

 these, part from the shelter afforded, would in 'a very few years be 

 valuable for many purposes on the farm. All tree seeds should be 

 put in as soon as gathered and covered with earth, to about their own 

 thickness. 



