100 



General Care of Trees 



system is killed b\- winter cold has been discussed on page 

 67, where injuries by frost are described. 



Pruning for Form. The removal of dead and broken 

 branches and the smoothing and proper dressing of badly 

 made wounds is, of course, the first concern of the pruner. 

 The removal of green branches has usually for its object 

 the regulation of the form, in order to favor invigoration, 

 or new formation in other parts. 

 Every branch or twig cut produces 

 a change in the development of other 

 branches or twigs, because these now 

 enjoy different light, food, and water- 

 supply. The skilful pruner keeps in 

 mind, therefore, what new develop- 

 ment will be induced by cutting 

 away branches, and cuts accordingly, 

 either to strengthen a weaker mem- 

 ber by removal of a stronger, or to 

 help a stronger one by subduing 

 double edged ° prunmg superfluous feeders, favoring either 

 ^^^' the leaders by the removal of side 



branches, or inducing the spread and compacting of the 

 crown by heading back the leaders. And, in pruning for 

 form, he keeps in mind that the heading in of young shoots 

 tends to develop dormant buds; that the tendency of most 

 species is to develop the uppermost buds rather than those 

 at the base of the shoot; that heavy pruning at the top 

 tends to invigorate and produce better development of the 

 lower portions, and vice versa. 



Of superfluous parts to be removed are the water-sprouts 

 or suckers, for, as their very name indicates, they are rob- 

 bing other branches of food materials. Water-sprouts are 

 branchlets, arising from adventitious buds out of regular 



Fig 



"Lightning 



