io8 General Care of Trees 



ened, especially those inclined to compete with the leaders 

 or to assume a vertical position. In shortening these, the 

 cut should be made at the point at which they begin to 

 assume upright positions, and, if possible, just above some 

 secondary ascending branch or branches, and these in turn 

 should also be shortened, just above one of their secondary 

 branches, as shown in the accompanying schematic figure. 

 In other words, the upper branch is the one preferably to 

 be removed. Care must be taken to leave enough branch- 

 lets to insure sufficient food elaboration for feeding the main 

 branch. This is especially essential in old trees. The 

 branches left are significantly called "sap lifters." By 

 their development they will gradually outgrow and straighten 

 the angles made by the removal of their competitors. 



Fig. 40. — "Victor" tree-pruner. 



The illustration taken from Des Cars will suffice, without 

 further explanation, to show how properly pruned trees may 

 appear, according to his notion. 



Tools. The tools to be used in pruning are of impor- 

 tance. The axe is not a serviceable tool and should be used 

 only in the rough work, such as the first cutting back of 

 branches which are afterward to be taken off by the saw. 

 A fine-toothed, narrow-bladed, stiff saw is in most cases 

 the best tool. Various bow-shaped saws are in the market, 

 but they have little advantage over the straight blade in 

 skilful hands. Stiffness is, however, an important quality, 

 and a thin blade stretched in a steel frame answers best. A 

 double-edged pruning saw on a long handle can be used to 

 advantage only for medium-high w^ork. Extension ladders 

 and closer approach to the work are necessary on larger 



