15 



pole is very serviceable. When large branches are to be removed 

 the saw should always be used, — the axe never — for with every blow 

 of this tool the wood is cracked inward and toward the center and 

 decay will more quickly follow than if the saw is used. A saw with 

 about^ve teeth to the inch, set like a splitting saw, the teeth pointing 

 toward the end, is better than a cutting-oflf saw. The curved "Par- 

 agon " is the best saw in the market, the teeth on the inner 

 curve pointing toward the handle while those on the outside are 

 directed- toward the point. In sharpening this saw the file should 

 not be carried quite as nearly at right angles with the blade as in 

 the common splitting saw but more nearly to that angle than with 

 the common cutting-off saw. 



RULES FOR PRUNING. 



1. The knife or saw should never be used on a fruit or orna- 

 mental tree unless there is positively good reason for so doing. 



2. Train all trees while young with a central leader or main 

 shoot, and never allow two main branches to grow in such a way as 

 to have the weight of the tree come upon a fork of the main trunk. 



3. When two branches cross so as to be injured by rubbing 

 together the weaker of the two should be cut out. 



4. When one branch rests on another under it the weaker of the 

 two should be cut out. 



5. Suckers or water-sprouts should be thinned out before they 

 have made much growth, but if the main branches are bare or if the 

 head is open in places, suckers should be allowed to grow where they 

 will cover this condition. If parts of the tree are w^eak in growth, 

 this weak wood may be cut out and some of the suckers be allowed 

 to grow in its place. The cause of these sprouts is that the sap 

 becomes impeded by the bending down of the branches with weight of 

 fruit, by the hot sun striking the branches or perhaps by some injurj' 

 to the bark in pruning or gathering the fruit, and nature makes this 

 effort to repair the injury. The removal of all of these suckers will 

 soon result in the death of the tree while allowing some of them to 

 grow where needed will renew the vigor of the tree. 



6. If large branches are to be removed make the cut in the 

 middle of the enlarged part where it joins the main branch or trunk, 

 and not quite in line with the face of the main branch or trunk. 



7. Paint all wounds above one-half inch in diameter with linseed 

 oil paint, gas tar or grafting wax. 



