HOW TO PRUNE. 231 



off by stock or game, or having become otherwise 

 injured so as to cause it to die down to or near the 

 surface of the ground, or the top having become dead, 

 which latter occurrence frequently takes place in 

 larger ones, particularly if imperfectly rooted previous 

 to transplanting. In this case, the only sure means 

 for recovery of the tree is to cut it over, in small 

 plants, within an inch or so of the ground's surface, 

 and the part cut off stripped of the small branches, 

 sharped on the thick end, and stuck firmly into the 

 ground close by the side of the stool from which it 

 was cut off. This forms a future mark .for the pruner 

 when he goes over the stools in June or July to clear 

 away from them all superfluous shoots, leaving only 

 the strongest and straightest on each to form the 

 future tree. 



With regard to trees of more advanced growth 

 whose top has decayed, we cut off only the dead part 

 back to where the stem is vital, allowing a leader to 

 start from the strongest shoot upon the stem. This 

 we often find of advantage where cattle or other ani- 

 mals would be likely to destroy the trees if within 

 their reach. 



2. In transplanting large trees for ornamental pur- 

 poses, we generally cut a portion off the top, or reduce 

 the number of the large branches ; this not only 

 lightens the top of the tree, and prevents the wind 

 from having undue influence upon it, but also causes 

 a larger quantity of sap to ascend what remains of 

 the branches and top thus newly produced. 



3. The next case is that of a tree at various periods 

 of its growth, from a sapling upwards, that has branched 

 off into two or more stems. This occurs both when 

 the tree is of spontaneous growth and also when it 



