HOW TO PRUNE. 233 



proportion to the stem to admit of being cut clean off. 

 Not only is the proportionate size of the hranch to be 

 taken into accoimt, but the state of the tree's health 

 at the time must be observed and studied, together 

 with the situation in which it is growing. 



These constitute some of the principal features to 

 guide us in determining whether the branches are to 

 be reduced by degrees or cut off at once. 



4. When a tree divides into a double top, at a 

 height below what constitutes a good trunk or stem, 

 we lighten one of the tops by cutting off about one- 

 third of its entire length — that is, if the annual growths 

 are large, the top much drawn up, and with few lateral 

 branches upon it ; but if the annual growths are com- 

 paratively short, say from 12 to 15 inches in length, 

 and fully furnished with lateral twigs, we at once cut 

 away close to the leading stem the less favourable- 

 looking shoot of the two, and in general cases the one 

 that would be most likely to be broken off by the pre- 

 vailing winds in the locality. Pruning in this case is 

 generally performed by means of the pruning-chisel, 

 which is used to great advantage upon trees when 

 beyond a man's reach. 



5. It frequently happens that a tree, from some 

 accident or other, loses its leading top at an early 

 age ; the consequence is, that a number of branches 

 strike off in a horizontal direction, but none of them 

 take an upright position, and this renders the tree 

 quite a shrub of a somewhat pendulous and spreading 

 appearance. A tree in this state would probably ever 

 remain as a mere arboret or bush if left to itself. In 

 this case, when hares and rabbits are not to be feared, 

 we at once cut over the tree to within an inch or so 

 of the ground. A young tree is thus allowed to form ; 



