96 



THE HEALING OF WOUNDS 



Two dwarf pear shoots are reported in Fig. 83. 

 The one on the left was cut at some distance above 

 a bud, and the dead and dangerous stub persists. 

 The twig on the right was cut just above a bud, 

 and the wound is already securely covered. 



82. The dying-back 

 of a winter-cut shoot. 



83. Poor and good heading-in 

 of dwarf pear. 



There are two important lessons to be drawn 

 from these simple examples, the nature of the 

 healing process, and the relation of the length of 

 the stub to the welfare of the uppermost buds. 

 In respect to the healing process, it may be said 

 that stubs which project far beyond a branch or 

 far from a trunk, rarely heal over. The end of 

 the branch being removed, the stub cannot heal 

 itself, but the healing must depend upon the 

 activities of other parts or branches. This state- 

 ment is an exceedingly important one, and we 

 shall see its applications as we proceed. 



