152 



I'UI XC'II'I.KS AM) I'UA(TICK OK PRTXIXG 



perfect ; indeed the majority on the market do too inferior 

 work to deserve the name. Most conspicuous among 

 these is the double-edge abomination (Fig. Ill) pictured 

 in seedsmen's and nurserymen's catalogs. It not only 

 cuts the trees where it should not, but cuts the man who 

 uses it the least bit car<?lessly. Experienced pruners 

 shun it. 



Several styles and sizes of saws are needed because- 

 of the variety of work to be done. For heavy work, such 



as orchard renovation, the blade 

 should be 24 to 27 inches long. 

 5 to 6 inches wide at the base, 

 about 1 inch wide at the small 

 end and have five or six teeth 

 of ordinary form to the inch. 

 The ordinary tooth will give 

 better satisfaction than the 

 "lumberman's tooth" often on 

 the double-edged saw (Fig. 

 111). For lighter work, such as 

 that on trees w r ell handled from 

 the start, a lighter, smaller saw 

 is needed. One with a blade 

 21 to 24 inches long, 4 inches 

 wide at the handle, 1 inch at 

 the tip and with f>. ;V/, or (> 

 ordinary teeth to the inch will 

 be found very satisfactory. 

 For smaller branches a still smaller, thinner saw will 

 do excellent work. One 15 inches long, 3 wide at 

 the base, tapering to a point and carrying (), (\ l /2 or 7 

 ordinary teeth to the inch is about right. A curved saw 

 with teeth pointing toward the handle is often of special 

 use in making draw cuts. Its length may be about K> 

 inches, its width at the point 1 inch and at the handle *J 

 or 2 1/ inches. In California it is largely used in .sawing 

 old grapevines for grafting. 



FIG. 

 COMMON PRUNING SAWS 



The uppermost saw differs 

 from an ordinary pruning saw 

 only in having a slightly curved 

 blade. The handle is too small 

 for the gloved hand. So is the 

 handle in No. 2, which is a very 

 objectionable type of saw be- 

 cause of its double-edged blade. 

 The lowest tool is popular in 

 California for cutting grapevines 

 that are to be grafted near the 

 surface of the ground. On it the 

 teeth are set for a draw cut. 



