THE LONG AND USELESS STUB 99 



branchless stump has no life in itself. The only 

 chance for this stub to be healed -in is from the 

 activities of the trunk; but the end of it is too 

 far removed from the base of supplies to receive 

 much benefit therefrom. Having no vital part 

 in the life of the tree, it is side -tracked, and must 

 starve. Fig. 84 is another case. Above the stub 

 at the right a cluster of toadstool fungi has 

 found a happy foothold. 



Where should these limbs have been cut? 

 There is an enlargement or brace at the base 

 of a limb, and this bulge is usually larger the 

 longer and more horizontal the limb. This bulge 

 is well shown in Fig. 85. It is a common notion, 

 which the writer, much to his humiliation, once 

 aided to promulgate, that the cut should be 

 made just beyond the bulge, and at right angles 

 to the direction of the limb. This leaves "a stub 

 like that in Fig. 86. The proper way, however, 

 is to cut as shown in Fig. 87, for all parts of the 

 wound are then in most intimate relations with 

 the trunk, which supplies the materials to be used 

 in covering the exposed surface. The area of the 

 wound is larger, to be sure, but this is of minor 

 consequence; and to such large wounds it is 

 expected that the operator will apply a dressing. 



The writer has no doubts as to the soundness 

 of the advice given in the last paragraph, but he 

 is glad to fortify it by two excellent authorities. 

 Professor Sargent, in his introduction to the 



