PRUNING RESERVE TREES. 39 



perpendicular, it should be cut off and a vigorous 

 branch taken up to supply its place. This should 

 be fastened in an upright position 

 to the base of the original leader, 

 and if some small branches can be 

 left on this they may be used as 

 withes to hold the new leader in place 

 (Fig. 31). 



If the young tree is not strong enough 

 to stand alone, it must be supported IT 



by means of a forked stick placed |\ 



against the side to which it inclines 



^ 



(Fig. 32), a cushion of moss or straw n * young tree 



twelve or fifteen 



being used to prevent the bark from yea rsoid. 



chafing against the support. It would be better to 



permanently stake and tie all such feeble young trees, 



but in a large plantation this is not prac- 



ticable. 



When coppice is allowed to grow for 



twenty years or more, the young re- 



serve tree is less difficult to manage, has 



fewer unfavorable conditions to contend 



against, and has at least gained the ad- 



vantage of sufficient strength to support 



a ladder ; one of the upright upper 



branches can, if necessary, be used to 



J Fig. 32. -Method 



form a leader; branches either too long of piping up a 



or growing in the wrong direction young tree - 

 should be shortened or removed to give to the head 

 the elongated shape required to prevent the excessive 



