162 



IMPROVEMENT OF PLANTS 



is best when possible to clean such places thoroughly and then 

 fill them up with Portland cement. 



After carefully smoothing off the surface of a wound left by 

 removing a large limb it is sometimes advisable to apply a dressing 

 of pine tar, grafting wax, or lead paint. Where only a portion of a 

 limb or branch is to be removed, it should be cut off just above a 

 bud or node. In each case care must be taken not to cut too close 

 to the bud or too far above the bud. 



Perhaps the least injurious method of pruning, so far as the plant 

 is concerned, is the prevention of the formation of new branches or 

 shoots by pinching or rubbing off the buds which would form such 

 growths. If the terminal bud is removed, more growth will be 

 made in the lateral branches and the plant will become bushy. 



Trimming or pinch- 

 ing off the lateral 

 buds will throw the 

 growth into the 

 terminal bud mak- 

 ing the central 

 stem elongate more 

 rapidly. 



Another method 

 of pruning is what 

 is known as root 

 pruning. This 

 tends to check the 

 production of wood, 

 and when carried 

 out properly may 

 increase the fruitfulness of the tree. In healthy plants there 

 is usually an even balance between leaf surface and root surface. 

 Root pruning is done by cutting in a circle around the tree in 

 line with the outer tips of the branches, but this will vary with 

 the particular plant under treatment and the nature of the 

 season when the pruning is attempted. 



In pruning the limbs of shade or ornamental trees it is always best 

 to avoid stilted and unnatural effects in the shapes that are designed. 

 Evergreen trees look much prettier when left untrimmed. 



Avoid stilted effects. 



