254 Principles of Plant Culture. 



through the bark with the pruning saw often accom- 

 plishes the desired end. 



Notching above or below a bud or twig affects it much 

 as girdling affects the entire girdled member. Notching 

 below a bud or twig, therefore, checks its growth, and is 

 often followed by fruiting in that part. 



Peeling the stem has sometimes been practiced to make 

 barren trees fruitful (73). It is a hazardous operation 

 at best, and should only be used as a last resort. It is 

 accomplished by making two cuts around the trunk, 

 usually several inches apart, and just through the bark, 

 with one or more vertical cuts between them, after which 

 the bark between the circular cuts is carefully peeled 

 off. It should only be performed during a period of 

 very rapid growth, and at a time when the wood is well 

 supplied with reserve food, i. e., some time after the 

 tree has put out leaves. It is most likely to succeed in 

 warm, dry weather, and when the wound is not shaded 

 after peeling 5 otherwise, injurious fungi are apt to infect 

 the ruptured cells. 



C PROTECTIVE PRUNING 



429. Dead or Dying Members of a plant Should Be 

 Promptly Removed, since they more or less endanger its 

 well-being. Dead branches of any considerable size in- 

 vite decay into the stem which often results disastrously 

 (419). Branches that are dying from infection by a 

 fungous parasite, as the apple or pear blight, or the black 

 knot of the plum (323), are especially dangerous and 

 should always be removed as soon as discovered. 

 Branches that tend to interfere with the growth of 

 others already formed should be checked by pinching 



