58 Landscape Gardening 



The Proper Height of Branches 



Pruning too at the time of transplanting is often neces- 

 sary in order to start the branches at the desired height. 

 If low-branching trees are desired, it is often necessary to 

 head them in severely from the top, as in Fig. 21. This 

 is especially the case with trees taken from swamps, pas- 

 tures, and roadsides. If all the branches are cut off to 

 a ''bean-pole" condition, as is often done with very tall 

 and top-heavy trees, much care must be exercised that the 

 branches do not all come out nearly at one point, as in 

 Fig. 25. A leader should always be started, as shown in 

 Figs. 20 and 26; and the laterals must grow slowly and at 

 considerable distance apart to prevent the formation of 

 forks that will split down when the trees are heavily loaded 

 with snow or ice. The height at which the main branches 

 shall be started depends upon the surrounding conditions. 

 For covering avenues or walks a height that will clear the 

 heads of pedestrians when the branches are weighted with 

 rain or snow is sufficient; and for a drive a height that will 

 clear any carriage or loaded team that may be driven under 

 them is sufficiently high, unless it is desirable to get 

 views or vistas under the branches through to pleasing 

 objects. 



With trees from the nursery less pruning is needed than 

 if taken from the woods or roadside, as their root system is 

 generally more compact, owing to transplanting and culti- 

 vation; but it will be better to prune as much as is neces- 

 sary to start the tree in proper shape, cutting out all shoots 

 not in proper position to form a satisfactory head, and short- 

 ening in all of the permanent shoots, always preserving and 

 encouraging a leader whether the tree be naturally a round or 

 conical-formed one; but this applies more especially to all 

 avenue trees, which should be kept growing most vigorously 



