240 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 



saw when the trunk was split or sawed open. 

 But if it happened to be a large limb, then the 

 stub would likely be much longer. Year after 

 year the wood growth would pile up around it. 

 During all this time the stub is decaying while 

 the wood is being built up several inches about 

 the now rotten stub, which finally drops out, 

 leaving the knot hole. As time goes on, unless 

 a very rapid growth of the tree closes this 

 opening, the decay which began in the dead 

 branch will be carried down into the body of 

 the tree, resulting as it frequently does, in a 

 hollow, which squirrels or bees are ready to 

 make use of as homes. 



When we prune our trees it will be well for 

 us to consider where to make the cut, for if we 

 leave a stub which cannot heal over, it must 

 eventually rot off and leave a hole in the tree ; 

 It endangers the life of the apple just as surely 

 as it would that of the forest tree. The stub 

 cannot heal because there are no leaves beyond 

 the cut surface to elaborate or prepare the 

 plant food, and send it back to build tissues to 

 cover the wound. Whenever we leave long 

 stubs we should not be surprised that they do 

 not heal, but simply die and drop oflF. Then 

 we should not cut too close. If we do, the 

 wound is made larger than is necessary and 



