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which rain water, dead leaves, etc., gather, and which 

 becomes a breeding nest for parasites. The question may 

 be summarised as follows: 



1. On the stump, the strongest bud should be kept, 

 the others are cut out. 



2. Although topping increases the diameter of the 

 trees, it is dangerous from their greater tendency 

 to split from becoming too heavy. If topping is 

 practised, it must be done by pinching out the 

 point of growth and later on the crown must be 

 thinned out. 



3. Generally, all the branches are pruned away from 

 the lower 10 feet of the trunk, so that a bark 

 suitable for tapping is left. 



4. All wounds must be cut over as smooth as possible 

 and be covered with boiling tar, so as to permit 

 the rain water to flow away. 



