TREE-PRUNING. 



When conducted with care, on sound principles, the 

 effect of pruning on the class of timber referred to is 

 highly beneficial, 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, &c., never cut on the 

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

 rain may pass off quickly. 



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