FOR PROFIT. 41 



close to the main stems and branches as is usually 

 done, but about 6 inches from the stem, and that after 

 the saw has been used, the surface should be planed 

 over and the edges be rounded and smoothed with a 

 knife, so that new bark can creep over and cover the 

 wound. 



All Old Orchards have trees with holes in them the 

 favourite nesting places of the starling and torn-tit. 

 The wood decays, and the woodpecker first starts the 

 aperture by searching for its food, and other birds 

 take the opportunity to nest where they can readily 

 make room in the soft spongy wood. All shoots sawn 

 off over half-an-inch across should be rounded in the 

 way indicated, and I strongly recommend that this 

 pruning should be done as soon as the fruit is gathered, 

 as the bark then makes some progress to cover the 

 wound the same season, and the air being dry, the 

 exposed wound hardens (so to speak heals) more than 

 in the winter ; and moreover, the shoots that are dead 

 and leafless can be detected much more readily than 

 when the leaf falls. I must repeat that all this severe 

 pruning should be done in the long days of summer 

 or autumn. Especially should all broken and split 

 boughs be removed from Plums where injured by 

 ladders or an over-crop. 



I have heard of trees being severely injured by being 

 pruned in a heavy frost, when the men could not work 

 on the land, but I cannot say that it is always so. 



In pruning these " old stagers," it is not advisable 

 to tip the branches, as the most lively wood, which 

 draws the sap up freely, is on the points, and they 

 nourish the tree. 



