Photo 7. 



Photo 9. 



is customary to cut up under. 

 A much better way is to cut 

 the whole branch off, out, say, 

 two feet from the trunk. This 

 relieves the heavy weight. 

 Then you can start the saw at 

 the "shoulder" and can easily 

 manage the remaining stub. 

 Sometimes the branch is so 

 attached that you cannot get 

 behind it with a saw. In such 

 cases, those who can swing an 

 ax well can make a good, clean 

 cut with that implement, strik- 

 ing up from under. Those 

 who are unaccustomed to the ax should use a large chisel, as shown in photo n. Never 

 leave the wound hacked and lacerated. Cutting upward with the grain is essential. 



DRESSING THE WOUNDS. 



I have never seen the matter of dressing the wounds presented with one-tenth of the 

 strength that it should be. The wounds not only " ought to be painted," but positively 

 they must be, or the premature death of your tree will follow. Look at photo 7. This 

 is a "crotched" apple tree. You behold two old sores. The cut was made in the right 

 place in both cases, but it was not painted. See what excellent efforts nature has made 

 in both to cover up the wound ! Hut the action of frost, air and rain have done their 

 deadly work. In photo 8 this same tree is presented, with the worst of the old sores 

 traced down uncovered. What a nauseating sight ! And yet this is not half as bad as 

 two-thirds of the apple orchards of Ohio. From such trees you expect sound fruit, do 



9 



Photo 8. 



