PRUNING 



217 



active at this season, soon covers the wound with a protective 

 layer of bark. One should be careful not to overprune ; a little 

 pruning yearly is much better than more at longer intervals. 



Pruning implements. A good sharp knife is a most efficient 

 pruning instrument, and the intelligent horticulturist seldom 

 needs anything else. Prun- 

 ing shears with stout blades 

 may take the place of the 

 knife, but when shrubbery 

 has been allowed to go for 

 some time, large branches 

 may require the use of 

 a saw. There are various 

 kinds of pruning shears 

 and saws on the market, 

 some forms of the latter 

 having teeth on both sides 

 of the blade. 



Methods of pruning. 

 There are several rules 

 that may be observed in 

 pruning any shrub or tree. 

 It is always proper to re- 

 move branches that shade 

 others as well as those that 

 grow toward the interior 

 of the crown. These latter 

 are soon ciit off from the 

 light by the growth of the 

 outside branches, and, if not removed, would soon die anyway. 

 Branches that have grown too rapidly for the symmetry of 

 the plant may be cut back, but in all cases where part of a 

 twig is removed care must be taken to cut above a bud facing 

 outward, else the new growth is likely to grow toward the 



FIG. 158. An apple tree 



An example of improper pruning. The tree 



has been allowed to grow so high that it is 



difficult to gather the fruit 



