340 OR^AMEXTAL GARDEI^^ING. 



of compact and beautiful proportions — adapting such as 

 would otherwise increase to be too large for small spaces 

 — ^by this means. The Alders, Globe Acacias, Flowering 

 Peaches, Camperdowii Elm, Fountain Willow, and some 

 others have need of a frequent or annual going over, to 

 keep them symmetrical and shapely where such a form 

 is desired. Rapid, slender growing trees, like the Silver 

 and Cut-leaved Maples, Scarlet Oaks, Weeping Linden, 

 etc., should, while young and growing fast, be headed-in 

 several times to cause them to grow bushy. By such a 

 course, there will be less danger of their limbs breaking 

 from the ice and snow which sometimes gathers on them. 



Trees near the house, or in streets, should usually have 

 high heads, to allow of good views from the house and a 

 free circulation of air. These should rarely be cut back, 

 but a thinning out of lower branches before they become 

 large, should be resorted to to effect openness underneath. 



In any case where large branches need pruning away, 

 the cut should invariably be made close to the trunk. 

 To prevent splitting of the stump and possible injury to 

 the tree by the weight of the branch at falling, first cut 

 or saw half through the branch from below, about nine 

 inches out; after this saw in from the top near to the 

 tree until the limb falls, and then make a new clean cut 

 close to the trunk, afterwards thoroughly coating the 

 surface with thick paint, melted grafted wax, or shellac 

 varnish, to keep out air and moisture. By such means 

 the formation of new growth over the scar is encouraged, 

 and in time this w^ound may have the appearance of any 

 other part of the trunk — a vast improvement over the 

 horrid stubs of branches, which are often seen projecting 

 out a foot or two from the tree. Should the coating re- 

 ferred to be neglected, permanent injury may easily come 

 to the tree from rain soaking in through the scar, caus- 

 ing it to ro^ at the heart. These instructions may in 

 general apply also to the cutting away of small branches. 



