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growth, to improve the form, or to increase the 

 fruitfulness of trees. Pruning ought to be 

 performed with sharp tools. When the saw 

 is used, the ends of the limbs should after- 

 wards be carefully pared with a knife. They 

 should then be covered with some composi- 

 tion to protect them from the weather. 

 Downing's Gum-Shellac is admirably adapt- 

 ed to this purpose. This preparation is made 

 by dissolving a quantity of the gum in alco- 

 hol, so that the composition shall be of the 

 consistency of thin molasses. The liquid 

 should be kept in a wide-mouthed bottle, the 

 cork of which should have a wire (running 

 through it into the bottle,) with a sponge at- 

 tached to the end of it. 



Thus prepared, the composition may be 

 very conveniently applied, wherever it may 

 be needed. We cannot too highly recommend 

 this preparation for the purposes for which it 

 is designed. 



I. PRUNING TO IMPROVE THE GROWTH AND FORM 

 OF A TREE. 



THE growth and health of a tree may be 

 greatly improved, and its form rendered far 

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