120 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF I'RrXLNG 



111. /p. Large wounds heal according to conditions, most 

 important of which are the kind and the vigor of the plant, 

 the length and position of the stubs, the smoothness or 

 the roughness of the cut surfaces, the health of the wood 

 and the time of year when made. 



This principle needs elucidation in a chapter by itself 

 (Chapter VI). Yet a few words may be here used to ad- 

 vantage in summarizing the discussion. From the stand- 

 point of healing alone, large wounds heal most readily when 

 made just before the growing season opens because the ex- 

 posed tissues have but a brief time to dry out, and the cam- 

 bium cells, very soon after the wounding, become active. 

 However, the vigorous or feeble condition and the species 

 and perhaps the variety of the tree, the character and posi- 

 tion of the wound and the influence of many other local 

 factors may affect the healing to a greater or lesser extent 

 either favorably or unfavorably. 



112. 20. Wound dressings, which do not injure the (j row- 

 ing tissues, which are antiseptic and durable, and which thus 

 give physical protection, may prevent or check the entrance 

 of decay, but they do not hasten healinq. 



This principle receives separate discussion. (Chapter 

 VIII.) 



