4 HINTS ON SILKWORM-REARING IN THE PUNJAB. 



fed to the worms. Next, from each of the selected main 

 branches all the buds should be stripped off except two 

 facing outwards from the centre of the tree. These two 

 buds should be near each other and at a height of 1^ to 2 

 feet above the place where the branch joins the main stem. 

 Each of the main branches should then be pruned down to 

 about half an inch from the top of the highest bud left, 

 taking care not to harm the bud in doing so. This treat- 

 ment should be repeated for a few years until the tree has 

 attained a considerable size and its shape has become perma- 

 nently fixed. But the tree should be visited every year 

 before buds begin to sprout, and all dead twigs or badly 

 shaped branches removed. Branches near the base of the 

 main stem must not be cut off too soon from young plants. 

 A few of these left on a plant help to strengthen the stem : 

 but they should not be numerous nor be allowed to become 

 thick. If under the above system of pruning the branches 

 are getting too long and slender, two buds should be left 

 a little nearer the base of the branches, the part of the 

 branch above these being removed as before. Should the 

 system of branches on the tree be too open, two buds facing 

 inwards may be left instead of two facing outwards. 



oiaTrTel * 10. To rejuvenate old trees, the earth around their 



roots should be loosened and they should be manured well 

 in the autumn. In the spring, the main branches should be 

 cut off, 3 to 4 feet 'from the trunk. The following spring 

 when the leaves are being gathered, all buds, except two 

 about two feet high on the outside of each reserved young 

 branch, should be removed : these branches should be cut 

 about a half an inch above the highest bud. Older branches 

 should be removed completely. This treatment should be 

 continued until the tree has reformed its top. 



Sav^from ^ T remove leaves from tall trees, an instrument* 



taiurees. such as that employed by goat-herds for removing leaves 

 from trees may be used. But if it used, it must be very 

 sharp, and the branch will be cleanest cut if it be struck at 

 an angle of about 30 and the blade meets it in a per- 

 pendicular plane from the side nearest the centre of the 

 tree. Special long handled shears which can now be obtain- 

 ed for cutting twigs from all trees, would serve the purpose 



