10 



tool. These secateurs can berobtamed in various sizes and spare parts are to^be 

 obtained for them. The steel wire coil and the steel telescope are the best forms 

 of springs, and spare ones should always be on hand. When using the secateurs 

 the blunt lower jaw should never be allowed to come in contact with the bud, 

 this blunt portion of the secateurs always leaves a slight bruise on the stem, and for 

 this reason — whether the secatem's are held with the blade up or do'W'nwards the 

 blade should always be next to the portion of the limb or part remaining on tlie 

 tree, the blunt portion of the secatem's coming in contact with the portion of the 

 tree removed. If this practice is always observed the bruise will be on the portion 

 of the tree removed, leaving a clean cut behind. A strong, wide-mouthed pair of 

 secateurs, with a good hook, will cut a limb over an mch in diameter if the operator 

 pushes the limb to be cut away from the blade when using the secateurs. If this 

 is done properly there is no necessity to work the secateurs up and down as is 

 often done, damaging the bark so Ijadlv that the wound does not heal over readily. 



The Parts of the Tree* 



Many growers find the terms used in describing prunmg very confusing, so 

 I have included a few remarks on this subject. 



3V(c Tajj Root is tlie main centre root of the tree : this root should alwaj'S be 

 cut back when planting so as to promote lateral root gro\'\'th and good bearing 

 habits in the tree. 



Tlte lateral roots are tliose tlu'own out laterally by the tree. 



Tlie se.co7i<l_arii roots are the branches from the lateral roots. 



ThA fibrous roots are the fine rootlets tlirown off from the lateral and secondary 

 roots. 



Tlic root hairs are the minute hairs thrown oh by the fibrous roots: these supply 

 the nuti-iment to the tree in a soluble form. These fine hair rootlets penetrate 

 in all directions between the soil particles and absorb the moistiu-e through the 

 cap cells at their extremities and transfer it to the tree above, where it is elaborated 

 by the foliage in conjunction M'ith the carbonic acid absorbed by the stomata or 

 mouths of the leaves into the material used in building up the parts of the tree 

 and fruit, the <:-lilorophyll or green eolomnng matter in the foliage aiding in this 

 assimilation jjrocess which can onlj' take place in sunlight, therefore during the 

 day time. 



It is considered that the crude sap rises by osmotic or cell pressure chiefly 

 through the sapwood, the water being evaporated through the foliage ; the nutriment 

 required for tlie building up the parts of the tree, after being manufactured in the 

 foliage, is distributed during the night to the different parts of the tree. Those 

 substuncc^s not i-equired oi' of a poisonous iiatiue are either exuded on the outer 

 covering of the tree or returned to the i-oots with the downward flow of sap, chiefly 

 through the inner bark and exuded by the I'oots as hiuiiic or toxic substances. 



Tlie trimh is the main stem of the tree. 



TJie main arms are the first main branches from the trunk or stem formed 

 in the first pruning. 



Tlie secondari/ arms are the branches or subdivisions thrown off the nrain arms. 



The leaders are the inain branches off the subarms ; in other words the 

 eading shoots, which become the permanent leaders. 



