THE TEEATMENT OF THE SHOOT 135 



development of the normally quiescent buds close to the 

 main axis must be stimulated. Similarly, if time is to be 

 saved in the cultivation of plants, they are not allowed to 

 retain the long shoots, but these are removed so as i.to cause 

 the earlier development of flower-producing buds, 



A tree or shrub left to itself often produces a crown of a 

 disadvantageous form, by producing too many branches, so 

 that the crown is too thick at the centre and consequently 

 barren. Here artificial means must restore the air and light, 

 and therefore also productiveness, to the centre. Then, again, 

 faults take place in the growth by the production of, watery 

 shoots, which reduce productiveness of the tree (or entirely stop 

 it for a season) if rational measures are not adopted to cure 

 this defect. 



Lastly, we have already pointed out, in dealing with the root, 

 that plants which are to be transported must be repeatedly 

 transplanted. Every transplantation ensures a more or less 

 complete root-pruning. In doing this, we must remember the 

 principle that a plant deprived of some of its roots must have 

 its shoots correspondingly diminished. Many more examples 

 might be brought forward to point out that the horticulturist 

 is very rarely able to let the development of the shoots take its 

 own coursei The knife must be almost always brought into 

 requisition. 



§ 26. What is the least injurious form of a cut ? 



This question can be answered very briefly. The youngest 

 possible shoots should be pruned. This rule is based upon the 

 fact that the youngest shoots heal most rapidly and most 

 completely. The danger of a. wound lies in the effects which 

 may follow upon it, and of these the setting in of decay is the 

 most to be feared. This decay can take place without the 

 interference of fungi, though generally these organisms play 

 a part in the decay which sets in. The germination of fungal 

 spores on the cut surface is brought about and favoured if the 

 cut surface retains the necessary moisture for some time. 



We must- therefore prevent the accumulation of moisture as 

 much as possible. This consideration settles at once the best 



