PRUNING. 



251 



This is best done before the hole is quite 

 filled. 



In positions exposed to strong south-west 

 (or other prevailing) winds, a tree should, 

 when planted, be made to lean slightly towards 

 the exposed quarter. Many new-planted trees 

 require some support during the first few 

 months, until the roots have got hold of the 

 new soil. A common method is to drive a 

 stake into the ground near the stem, and then 



tie them together. This system has its dis- 

 advantages. Roots are liable to be injured 

 in driving down the stake, and during winds 

 the stem is apt to chafe against the stake and 

 thus start a wound unless some soft material 

 is placed between them. A good plan to give 

 temporary support is to use three guy-ropes 

 (thick, soft cord is best), attached to three 

 pegs firmly driven in the ground. AVhere the 

 branches come within a few feet of the ground, 



^^iRtfWl 



Figs. 319 and 320.— View and Side Elevation of Transplanting 

 Machine for Trees of large size. The mass is raised by means of 

 iron crowbars which fit into sockets in the rollers around which the 

 lifting-ropes are wound. 



three or more of them may be tied to stakes 

 driven in at equal distances round the tree, 

 several feet away from the trunk. 



Tools for transplanting, such as picks, mat- 

 tocks, &c, are dealt with in the chapters on 

 Tools. [w. J. B.] 



CHAPTER XXI. 



PRUNING. 



Pruning of Laege Trees — of Old or Sickly Trees 

 — of Shrubs — Root-pruning — Ringing. 



The operation of pruning may be performed 

 either to reduce or restrict a tree or shrub to 

 some desired size or shape, to regulate the 



quantity and quality of the flowers or fruit 

 they bear, or to improve the health and in- 

 crease the vitality of old or sickly trees. These 

 objects are simple and self-evident; yet it is 

 a fact, that of all the arts in horticulture 

 pruning is the one most misapplied and mis- 

 understood. It would be correct to say that 

 the hacking and clipping which is so frequent 

 in gardens is not pruning at all. Often done 

 without any regard to the habit of the plants 

 or their time of flowering, its only purpose is 

 to keep them to some arbitrary shape quite 

 regardless of their natural form. Although 

 pruning is a purely artificial process, it is based 

 on one of Nature's laws. Superfluous branches 

 are cast off or starved out of existence by trees 



