The Care of Trees 



139 



FIG. 91. The limb was cut at a 

 distance from the trunk, and 

 through the dead stump decay has 

 entered the trunk of the tree. 



Pruning. The beauty of trees is often spoiled by bad 

 pruning. Many trees require no pruning, unless some 

 accident befalls them. Prun- 

 ing of shade trees should be 

 done with a view to making 

 the tree as symmetrical as 

 possible. A well-grown tree 

 is a thing of great beauty 

 even in winter, and in sum- 

 mer the grace with which it 

 carries its foliage depends on 

 the symmetry of its branches. 

 Rather than keep a tree that 

 is badly pruned, take it out 



and plant a good young tree in its place. Cutting off 

 much of the top of the tree usually spoils its appearance. 



Dead or deformed limbs should be removed. If they 

 remain long on the tree, fungi of decay get into them 

 and grow down into the trunk. Limbs should not be 

 cut off several inches from the trunk, but close to it, so as 

 to permit the bark to grow over the wound. The cut sur- 

 face is often treated with a coat of paint or coal tar to 

 prevent fungi from getting access to the wood, but 

 recent tests show that this is not always necessary; 

 small wounds heal more quickly without any dressing. 

 If the wound is as much as 2 inches in diameter or if 

 the wood is not perfectly sound, gas tar should be ap- 

 plied. If the limb is heavy there is danger of its pull- 

 ing off some bark from the trunk just beneath where 

 it is attached, before the saw has gone all the way 

 through. To prevent this, the limb should first be sawed 



