THE NURSERY AND THE ORCHARD, 



often be ^necessary in the ^growing season to cut away or 

 shorten-in certain shoots which have been overlooked, 

 or, are making a very vigorous growth at the expense 

 of other portions of the tree Jlf properly pruned at trans- 

 planting and during the first]few years of growth, it will 

 rarely be necessary to remove large limbs, as all useless 

 shoots will be kept cut away while small. No sucker 

 from the root or limb that will have to be removed should 

 be left to obtain a year's growth, as they can be easily 

 rubbed oflf while young without the slightest injury; but 

 it is often the case that trees are neglected until their 

 heads are composed of numerous useless branches, whose 

 removal the future welfare of the tree demands. 

 In pruning, all cuts must be made with sharp instru- 



Fig. 58. 



ments. For small limbs a knife is sufficient, but when 

 too large to be cut in this manner, a pruning saw 



Fig. 59. 



must be used. When very large limbs are to be 

 sawed oflf, it is well to first saw about half through from 

 the bottom, finishing from the top, in order to prevent 

 splitting. The rough surface is tben smoothed over with 

 a sharp knife and an application made of paint, grafting 

 wax or gum shellac, mixed with alcohol, to the consistency 



