298 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



the growing season perfect form may be produced with 

 only the finger and thumb and a small pocket-knife, and 

 this without the loss of any growth of wood, which would 

 be the result if pruning is only done at the end of the 

 growing season. 



Up to the time of fruiting all the pruning fruit-trees 

 properly cared for will need is that mentioned above; but 

 after they begin to bear the branches will often droop so 

 much as to require removal, or they may cross one another 

 so as to be injured, bat in no case should large branches be 

 removed when it can possibly be avoided, as every cut made 

 on the trunk or main branches of a tree will more or less 

 shorten its life. Broken branches should be cut back to 

 the solid wood and all dead branches be removed, but every 

 wound made in this work should be covered at once with 

 linseed-oil paint, or some other preservative. Where large 

 branches must be removed, the saw should be used and 

 never the axe, as the latter cracks the wood more or less 

 and decay will follow much more quickly than if the saw is 

 used. In removing large branches always cut on the under 

 side of the branch first, that when it falls the bark may not 

 be torn from the trunk. Suckers that come out along the 

 main branches should be removed while they are soft and 

 can be easily rubbed off, that the growth that would go into 

 them if allowed to remain may go into the permanent 

 growth of the tree. 



The tops of trees that tend to grow too tall and spind- 

 ling should be pinched off before they have made much 

 growth, thus forcing the growth into the lower branches, 

 where it is much more desired. Cuts made at the ends of 

 the branches do little or no harm to the vitality of the 

 tree. 



