SHADE TREES. 



21 



be headed back, each limb being cut to one-half or one-third its 

 length. From these cut ends new branches arise, which grow 

 out vigorously and uniformly, soon obliterating the more con- 

 spicuous effects of this style of pruning. By pruning the 

 healthy limbs of old and failing trees, 

 new vigor is imparted to them. Such 

 pruning should usually be accom- 

 panied by the improvement of the 

 soil. Very old elms in the L,ondon 

 parks have responded to this method 

 of treatment with remarkable vigor. 

 All misshapen and injured limbs 

 should be trimmed or entirely removed. 

 The sprouts that may appear about 

 the wounds for a few seasons after 

 pruning should be cut off during the 

 latter part of summer. Epicormic 

 branches induced by the entrance 

 of too much light into the tree are 

 unsightly and intercept the rising sap; 

 they should be removed with the 

 sprouts above mentioned. 



The wqrk of pruning should be begun at the top of the tree 

 and completed at the bottom. In this way the desired form can 

 be better secured, and there is less danger of accident. The 

 men employed should be careful not to do more damage by 

 breaking and bruising than they do good by pruning. A rope 

 properly adjusted about the waist and fastened to a stout limb 

 above the workman is an excellent means of sustaining the 

 principal weight of the body while moving about through the 

 tree. The form and direction of the cut when removing 

 branches depends upon the position of the branch on the tree 

 and upon whether it is to be simply shortened or entirely 

 removed. Erect branches are shortened by cutting them at an 

 angle, thus preventing the undue entrance of water ; while side 

 branches are cut perpendicularly for the same reason. The sap- 

 lifter or small branch left near the cut, should always be on the 

 under side of the shortened branch, since if left on the top it 



FIG. 23. Branch cut even 

 with the trunk. 



