222 SOME SPECIFIC ADVICE 



ing a hold upon the soil, cannot supply the mois- 

 ture which is lost from the wound. The stubs 

 are, therefore, cut back to a fresh bud in the 

 spring, just before growth begins, leaving a stub 

 above the bud not more than a quarter of an inch 

 in length. Figs. 145 and 146 illustrate the 



145. Shaping the top. 146. Shaping the top. 



proper pruning of trees with reference to the 

 buds. It is considered by some pruners to be 

 important to cut to a bud which stands upon the 

 outside of the twig, thereby causing the top to 

 spread. It is usually the top bud which grows, 

 providing the stub is not dried back and the bud 

 is strong and healthy. If this top bud is on the 

 inside of the limb, it does not tend to spread so 

 far from the perpendicular as one which is on the 



