158 Practical Forestry 



There are a few exceptions the birch, sycamore and 

 maple where, on account of profuse bleeding, pruning 

 had best be postponed till after full foliage has been attained, 



Much mischief has been done by the pruning knife, and 

 still more by the handbill and saw when placed in the hands 

 of inexperienced workmen a fact that is apparent to any 

 interested person who visits various parts of the country. 



When conducted with care, on sound principles, the effect 

 of pruning on the class of timber referred to is highly bene- 

 ficial, whereas, when done in a haphazard way and by an 

 inexperienced hand, it is often attended with great danger 

 and grave results. 



In cutting or foreshortening small branches, a sharp 

 pocket-knife will be found most convenient, but when large 

 limbs have to be removed the pruning saw should be brought 

 into request, The branch to be removed, especially if of 

 large size and weighty, should first be cut through at any 

 convenient distance from the main stem, thus preventing 

 splitting and tearing of the bark, after which the stump may 

 be neatly sawn through as close to the bole of the tree as 

 possible. Undercutting by a few draughts of the saw 

 will here also go far in preventing tearing of the wood and 

 bark. So as to render the saw-cut smooth and prevent 

 water lodging on the surface, the face and edge should be 

 neatly dressed with an adze or sharp pruning knife, and 

 then painted with tar. When cutting over an upright- 

 growing branch, such as in pollarding trees, etc., never cut 

 on the horizontal, but always in a sloping direction, so that 

 the rain may pass off quickly. 



