166 STUDIES OF TREES 



for the development of destructive fungi or disease. The 

 application of tin covers, burlap, or other bandages to the 

 wound is equally futile and in most cases even injurious. 



SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS 



Prunixig shade trees: Here, the object is to produce a 

 symmetrical crown and to have the lowest branches raised 

 from the ground sufficiently high to enable pedestrians 

 to pass under with raised umbrellas. Such pruning should, 

 therefore, necessarily be light and confined to the low 

 limbs and dead branches. 



Pruning lawn trees: Here the charm of the tree lies 

 in the low reach of the branches and the compactness 

 of the crown. The pruning should, therefore, be limited 

 to the removal of dead and diseased branches only. 



Pruning forest trees : Forest trees have a greater com- 

 mercial value when their straight trunks are free from 

 branches. In the forest, nature generally accomplishes this 

 result and artificial pruning seldom has to be resorted to. 

 Trees in the forest grow so closely together that they shut out 

 the sunlight from their lower limbs, thus causing the latter 

 to die and fall off. This is known as natural pruning. In 

 some European forests, nature is assisted in its pruning by 

 workmen, who saw off the side branches before they fall 

 of their own accord; but in this country such practice would 

 be considered too expensive, hence it is seldom adopted. 



TOOLS USED IN PRUNING 



Good tools are essential for quick and effective work in 

 pruning. Tv.o or- three good saws, a pair of pole-shears, a 

 i:ole-saw, a 16-foot single ladder, a 40-foot extension ladder 



