114 THE HEALING OF WOUNDS 



mon pruning wounds; and this, I believe, is the 

 commonest opinion with careful orchardists. 



How TO MAKE THE CUT. I have just spoken 

 of the "nature of the cut." I refer to both 

 the length of the stub and the smoothness of 

 the wound. The length of stub has been dis- 

 cussed (Figs. 84-87). 



If the danger to wood wounds arises mostly 

 from the absorption of moisture and the entrance 

 of germs from the atmosphere, then it must fol- 

 low that a wound which is smooth and solid is 

 better than one which is haggled or splintered. 

 We can conceive, too, that the progress of the cal- 

 lus would be greatly obstructed 

 by notches and splinters. 



Most of my readers assuming 

 that I shall have such need no 

 explanation of Fig. 93. The dis- 

 aster would have been pre- 

 vented if the operator had cut 

 the limb as suggested in Fig. 



93. Careless pruning. . . . n -, 



94. A cut is first made as at a, 

 sawing the limb half in two, and then the cut is 

 made at b. The stub is then sawn off close, as 

 shown in Fig. 87. Every pains should be taken 

 to prevent the splitting of the wound or the 

 tearing away of the bark, for ragged wounds 

 seldom heal without becoming seriously diseased. 

 Although this is not the proper place for the 



