PRUNING 19 



off. The natural habit of the plant should be known and this form 

 preserved when removing any wood. This fact should always be kept 

 in mind except in the case of shrubs or trees which are to be trained in 

 artificial shapes. 



Results From Pruning. Pruning always arrests but does not 

 permanently change the natural habits and growth of a plant. It 

 often causes the plant to assume temporarily another form than it 

 would naturally assume. Pruned plants constantly struggle to return 

 to their natural habit, and when pruning has been undertaken for a 

 specific purpose it should be continued throughout the life of the 

 plant so long as that purpose is desirable. 



Root pruning tends to reduce wood production and hence to in- 

 crease fruit and flower production. Top pruning favours wood pro- 

 duction and thus more top is produced by the seemingly contrary 

 process of cutting it off. In the case of transplanted stock tops are 

 cut back to compensate for the roots that are lost in moving. Re- 

 moval of excess top growth insures to the remaining parts of the plant 

 more nourishment, with subsequent better development, and it also 

 decreases the area of leaf surface and the consequent evaporation of 

 stored-up moisture before the roots begin functioning in the new loca- 

 tion. 



Tools and Wound Dressings. Pruning shears, pruning knives, and 

 hand saws are the best tools to use. Pole saws and hooks should be 

 avoided as they leave ragged wounds, and pole pruners should be used 

 only for small twigs. Never use double edge saws as they are more 

 apt, in the hands of a careless workman, to injure the tree. A ladder 

 will be required for the larger trees and a block and ropes for removing 

 limbs that are near wires or that might injure property. 



For dressing wounds gas tar and liquid asphaltum have proven the 

 most satisfactory. They hinder healing the least of the common 

 dressings and are the most durable, adhesive, and antiseptic. Coal 

 tar and pine tar seem to be injurious and white lead apparently has no 

 injurious or antiseptic effect. Dressings give only physical protection 

 and cannot hasten healing, which takes place through the activity of 

 the plant itself. 



Trees — Top Pruning. Street trees should be pruned so that 



