104 General Care of Trees 



sometimes e\-en longer. Then the lower branches begin to 

 die, and, when the tree has reached its full height, this loss 

 of lower branches proceeds more rapidly, and a ]jeriod of 

 unsightliness must be ])assed through. Meanwhile, the 

 branches of the upper crown lengthen and the crown 

 broadens, the old trees of most species ha\-ing a very differ- 

 ent shape from the younger ones. 



It is, of course, desirable to retain the pyramidal form of 

 the conifers as long as possible, to trim as little as possible, 



and then always to a strong 

 lower bud, which will then ap- 

 parently continue the limb as if 

 Fig. 36. — California bow from an end-bud. The pruning 

 s ape piuning sa\\. ^^ lower branches, the peculiar 



beauty of the conifers, should be deferred until it becomes 

 absolutely necessary. 



In conifers, bud pruning is advantageously practised to 

 preserve perfect shape and prevent undue spreading. This 

 is done by clipping off the center-buds from any shoot that 

 projects beyond proper limits. This method will also tend 

 to improve and compact the form of such looser crown 

 structures as the upright junij^ers. 



Should a leader be damaged or broken, cut it back, leav- 

 ing a short stub above some strong branch, and tie the 

 latter up (by using the stub) as nearly as may be into ver- 

 tical position, when it will by and by assume the leader- 

 ship and eventually supplant the lost one. 



In the broad-leaved trees the tendency with most species 

 is to lose the juvenile form, in which the main axis is prom- 

 inent, sooner than in conifers; the branches develop more 

 stoutly and the crown spreads earlier, unless b}- crowding 

 in the forest or in planted groups, this si)read is prevented 

 and the shaft forced to grow upward. 



