HOW WOUNDS HEAL 



131 



several inches, because the exposed ends of the twigs dry 

 out and therefore die back as far as the drying extends, 

 perhaps even farther. For this reason fall-planted trees 

 should never be as severely pruned back as those set in 

 the spring, the idea being to leave the stubs, say, 6 inches 

 longer than they should be, so that second cuts may be 

 made at the desired places just before growth starts in 



HG. 90— PROPER WAY TO START CUTTING OFF LARGE LIMB 

 A cut should first be made underneath the limb a foot or more from the union 

 of this limb with the trunlc. When the saw binds or sticks a second cut should be 

 made from above and near to the first. See Fig. 91. 



the spring. When the second cutting is not gi\en, the 

 uppermost bud on each twig will attempt to bury the dead 

 stub. Whether or not it succeeds is immaterial, there 

 will always be a weak spot in the branch at such points 

 even though no actual decay may follow. Healing occurs 

 most satisfactorily when the stub is very short and the 

 bud develops a sturdy twig. 



