Tree Growing 95 



velop, which are likely afterwards to break off, either by 

 weight of leaves or by the wind, and leave unsightly and 

 dangerous wounds. All branches should be cut off close 

 to the trunk with a clean cut, so that it does not split with 

 its weight and the split run down the trunk. To prevent 

 this it is a good plan to make first a cut with the saw from 

 the underside of the branch and a little distance from the 

 trunk. This should be made as deep as possible until the 

 branch binds on the saw. Then a similar one should be 

 made on the upper side, a little farther from the trunk. 

 By doing this any split that starts from the second cut is 

 arrested by the first, and a short stump of the branch is 

 left which may then be sawn off close to the trunk without 

 danger. Whenever a large branch has been removed, 

 the wound should be coated with paint or tar to prevent 

 water getting into it and setting up decay. 



The treatment of trees for fungous diseases of any kind 

 is not an easy matter. Usually it is better, in the interest 

 of surrounding trees, to sacrifice one that shows any tend- 

 ency to fungous growths than to try to cure it. If all de- 

 cayed parts are kept carefully pruned away and all wounds 

 treated with tar or paint so that wet cannot get in, fungous 

 growths should not give trouble. There are cases where 

 decay attacks a tree locally, and, if left untreated, it would 

 spread and destroy or disfigure it. If it is particularly 

 desirable to prolong the life of a tree thus attacked, it is 

 not difficult to remove all the decayed wood, treat the 

 wound with hot tar or some antiseptic which will not soak 

 into the green wood and injure it, and then fill the cavity 



