CHAPTER VII. 

 Methods of growth, topping and pruning 



I. THE GROWTH. 



Within a few weeks from the stumps having been 

 planted, shoots should be developed from the superior 

 buds. (See fig. 6). The strongest of them are left and 

 the others removed. From the beginning care should be 

 taken that the tree grows straight upwards with a single 

 trunk; trees with two or more trunks are not easily 

 tapped on a systematic method ; it is difficult to tap 

 the inside with a knife. Moreover, the fork is a place 

 in the tree which tears easily and where rotten leaves 

 and rubbish accumulate so that it becomes a brooding- 

 nest for fungus. 



During the first year of growth, the tree is branchless, 

 and grows into a long pillar of green, upwards, and the 

 growth of the diameter is inconsiderable, compared with 

 the increase in height of the tree. At the beo-innino- of 



o o o 



the second year, the first side-branches appear, usually 

 always after the first fall of the leaves. 



After the side-branches have appeared, the diameter 

 of the tree commences to increase. 



