190 THE PRINCIPLES OF PRUNING 



19. Dressings do not hasten the healing of 



wounds, but they allow the healing to 

 progress unchecked because they may pre- 

 vent disease ; a good dressing, therefore, 

 is one which is antiseptic and durable, 

 ivhich affords mechanical protection, and 

 which does not itself injure the tissues. 



The various questions involved in this state- 

 ment have been somewhat fully discussed in 

 Chapter III., in which it was concluded that lead 

 paint is perhaps the best single dressing or pre- 

 servative for wood wounds. 



20. The best pruning is that which results from 



a definite purpose or ideal, and which is 

 founded on a consideration of fundamen- 

 tal principles and a careful study of all 

 the local conditions; and special prun- 

 ing -treatments designed to promote fruit- 

 bearing are of secondary importance to 

 the consecutive good care of the plant. 



