148 



PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OK PRUNING 



blackberry canes from the stools a hook primer also 

 (Fig. 106 h). Even the best pole pruner does poor work 

 except, perhaps, in heading-in, and then the work itself 

 is inferior to that done by the shears, the knife and the 

 saw, but these cannot be used without taking too much 

 time to reach the parts to be removed. The pole pruner 

 simply cannot be constructed or used so as to make a cut 

 properly. 



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FIG. 107 POLE SHEARS FOR OUTSIDE BRANCH PRUNING 

 No. 1. Good shear, simple, strong. The most satisfactory pole shear. Inex- 

 pensive. No. 2. Double lever in shear. No better than No. 1. Has more parts 

 to get out of order. No. 3. Old type of "Waters' " shear. Double guard prevents 

 close cutting, leaves a bruise and often becomes choked with wood and bark. 

 No. 4. Good shear, but the long arm is clumsy. A very good shear to transport 

 because the pole is detachable. No. 5. Objectionable double guard and clumsy arm. 

 No. 6. Very awkward and clumsy. Inefficient and much too expensive. 



Next to the pole pruner the knife will be used least 

 of the general equipment because the shears are quicker, 

 yet it cannot be dispensed with, because, for certain work, 

 such as pruning side shoots off young tree trunks, noth- 

 ing will take its place. The pruning knife should be stout, 

 the blade made of the best steel and kept always very 

 sharp. For this reason the style which permits the re- 



