12 TREE PRUNING. 



with a new growth must soon begin to decay, and in 

 time destroy the trunk of the tree (Fig. 6). Ex- 

 amples of this bad method are very common. Each 

 amputation of a branch produces a cavity, and the 

 tree soon becomes entirely decayed. In view of such 

 destruction, it might seem, perhaps, that branches of 

 a certain diameter cannot be safely amputated. That 

 this is an erroneous idea will be easily seen ; and it is 

 only necessary to make the amputation even with the 

 trunk, and then cover the wound with coal tar to 

 avoid all bad Vesults. Although 

 wounds caused by the amputation 

 of small branches heal over in spite 

 of the faulty methods of pruning 

 generally employed, such opera- 

 tions are, nevertheless, attended 

 with considerable danger to the 

 tree. Protuberances are formed 



U the tl>Unk ^ tU 



Fig. 6. Decaying Oak, 



showing the effect of ampu- the branches have been cut, and 



tating a branch in such a 



way that the diameter of the these produce a multitude of Small 



shoots (A, Fig. 7). The 

 the branch. development of such shoots in- 



dicates that a tree is in an unnatural condition, which 

 may be entirely avoided by cutting the branch even 

 with the trunk (B, Fig. 7). 



Experience and common-sense show the objection 

 to leaving any portion of an amputated limb, but 

 there is greater danger in allowing stumps one or 

 two feet long to remain on the trunk, a common 



