PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 



In many of our parks and woodlands at the present time 

 there exists an undue quantity of dead and dying wood, 

 which may be attributed to natural decay, the quality of 

 the soil, and in some instances to long-standing neglect in 

 the matter of non-attention to wounds which have been 

 caused by wind-broken limbs and branches. Such trees 

 would be greatly improved, both in health and appearance, 

 by judicious removal of the dead branches and attention 

 to old wounds in order to prevent the ingress of water, the 

 decay of many branches being directly attributable to this 

 cause. That an undue quantity of dead wood will induce 

 injurious insect pests, such as the goat and wood leopard moths, 

 which attack healthy trees, is well known, and was exempli- 

 fied in one of our London parks recently where numerous 

 young thorns and various species of Pyrus were injured by 

 the latter. In removing dead branches they should be cut 

 well back into the living wood in order to induce a fresh 

 start to growth at the point where amputation took place. 

 The removal of large dead limbs from old specimen 

 trees is an operation that requires a great amount of 

 skill, and should only be entrusted to those who have 

 had practical experience of pruning in its various phases. 

 As before stated, the removal of dead wood is merely a 

 matter of sentiment, though of its practical utility there 

 can be no doubt, and in all cases where the stag-headed 

 trees are conspicuous the removal of the dead wood is 

 to be recommended. 



How and when to prune. The latter part ol May or 

 beginning of June is undoubtedly the best season for pruning 

 the majority of hard wooded trees, as during that time the 

 motion of the sap is most vigorous, and in consequence the 

 wounds caused by amputation heal quickest. 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 

 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. 



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