22 TREE PRUNING. 



CHAPTER III. 



APPLICATION OF THE SYSTEM. 



Tools used in Pruning, The most convenient tool 

 for pruning is a straight-bladed cleaving knife. Suc- 

 cess in all operations of pruning depends on 

 the neatness of the cut, and this cannot be 

 attained with the common billhook used in 

 many parts of France. The best tool for 

 the purpose is (Fig. 16) one which has 

 been used for many years in Holland, and 

 which has lately been improved by de 

 Fig. is. - Courval. It weighs from 2 Ibs. 12 oz. 



Improved 



pruningknife. to 3 Ibs. 6 oz., or more, according to the 

 sixteen inches' strength of the workman. The blade is 



reinforced in the middle to increase its 



Cfi 



tf|* strength and concentrate the weight. In 



|f the north of France this tool is generally 

 Fig. 17. hung to an iron hook (Fig. 17) attached 

 to a leather strap buckled round the work- 



the pruning man ' s W aist, who is thus left perfectly free 



knife to the 



belt. in his movements (Fig. 18). 



In pruning tall trees, or trees otherwise difficult 

 to climb, the leather belt may with advantage be 

 passed over the shoulder, thus bringing the pruning 



