Arboriculture and Ornamental Planting 267 



limbs occur ; when rot appears ; to improve the shape 

 of the tree ; to prevent damage from wind. 



When the roots have been injured 



This subject has already been dealt with under the head 

 of transplanting. The same conditions may be brought 

 about by root disease, or necessary pruning of roots, and 

 the same remedy applies. 



When dead limbs occur 



The appearance of dead limbs may be due to old age, 

 insect or fungus, snow, hail or wind breakage, or in- 

 sufficient nourishment. In any case, only the dead or 

 infected limbs should be removed. If there are indications 

 of insects or disease, the pruned limbs should be carefully 

 removed and burned. No trace of them should be left. 



To improve the shape of the tree 



Pruning for this purpose should be done very sparingly. 

 It is not generally advisable to attempt to change very 

 greatly the natural shape of a tree. The shape and 

 habits of a tree should be known and considered when 

 the tree is planted, instead of planting indiscriminately 

 and then trying to make it conform to the fancy of the 

 owner. Any attempt to make a tall, fan-shaped tree round- 

 headed, or vice versa, will fail, and the tree so treated 

 will always have a stilted, artificial appearance. A more 

 bushy growth can be secured by pruning the leading shoots 

 and this is sometimes advisable. It is also comparatively 

 easy to accentuate the natural tendency of the tree by 

 cutting off any stray branches which may be wandering 



