332 



tlic evil can be checked for a considcraU'e number oi years by using ferti- 

 lizers at some distant from the trunk. The tree in its endeavors to reach 

 the fertihzer develops a new vigorous P.ni system, ^'oung trees can be 

 entirely cured by transplanting. 



It must also be emphasized that the formation of suckers disappears 

 of itself from many trees after a few years. This is the case where such 

 water sprouts have been induced by an excessive pruning of the tree or the 

 sudden dressing of the trunks. In avenues of trees, or along streets with 

 telephone wires, and in tree plantations, through which a street or railroad 

 line has been cut, a strong development of suckers is found on the sides 



of the trees toward the 

 street. 



In sucli cases large 

 tranches are often sim- 

 ply chopped ofif on the 

 side toward the street. 

 Since the root system 

 remains unimpaired, it 

 pumps up just as much 

 water as before the tree 

 toi) had been reduced. 



l!v the removal 



ated branch of Picea 



rhf oritrinal baiid-likc shoot (/), in one year, ha.s developed llirce svic 



cessive stages wliicli sprout out from one another iJ, .?, ^}. (a) liiid 



scales, d/z natural size. After Nobbe.) 



the branches, however, 

 there is less consumption 

 and consequently dor- 

 mant buds are awakened 

 which mature into slen- 

 der shoots, becoming 

 water sprouts whose 

 buds often sprout even 

 in the }ear of their pro- 

 duction. Th. Ilartig' 

 has obser\ed tliat these 

 premature shoots de- 

 velop no basal buds. 



If suckers are pro- 

 duced by the sudden re- 

 moval of large branches from the crown, their formation may be retarded 

 by creating other diverting centers by scarification. In the spring pruning 

 of branches, scarifying will, indeed, prevent the formation of the water 

 shoots. In the same way, chopping into a vigorous root near the base of 

 the trunk at the side where the tree crown has been greatly thinned out. 

 will diecrease the supply of water and prevent the sucker formation. 



Fig-. IS. Cross-section of the fasciated spruce branch. 



A through the upper part of the branch; Ji throusrh the lower part : 



((/) bark with needle cushions: (*) wood: (.1 ) pith. 



(Natural size. After Nobbe). 



1 Vollstandige Naturg-eschichte d. forstl. Kulturpflanzen, p. 176 



