104 General Care of Trees 
sometimes even longer. Then the lower branches begin to 
die, and, when the tree has reached its full height, this loss 
of lower branches proceeds more rapidly, and a period of 
unsightliness must be passed through. Meanwhile, the 
branches of the upper crown lengthen and the crown 
broadens, the old trees of most species having a very differ- 
ent shape from the younger ones. 
It is, of course, desirable to retain the pyramidal form of 
the conifers as long as possible, to trim as little as possible, 
and then always to a strong 
lower bud, which will then ap- 
| parently continue the limb as if 
Fic. 36 —California bow from an end-bud. The pruning 
shaped Pruning saw, of lower branches, the peculiar 
beauty of the conifers, should be deferred until it becomes 
absolutely necessary. 
In conifers, bud pruning is advantageously practised to 
preserve perfect shape and prevent undue spreading. This 
is done by clipping off the center-buds from any shoot that 
projects beyond proper limits. This method will also tend 
to improve and compact the form of such looser crown 
structures as the upright junipers. 
Should a leader be damaged or broken, cut it back, leav- 
ing a short stub above some strong branch, and tie the 
latter up (by using the stub) as nearly as may be into ver- 
tical position, when it will by and by assume the leader- 
ship and eventually supplant the lost one. 
In the broad-leaved trees the tendency with most species 
is to lose the juvenile form, in which the main axis is prom- 
inent, sooner than in conifers; the branches develop more 
stoutly and the crown spreads earlier, unless by crowding 
in the forest or in planted groups, this spread is prevented 
and the shaft forced to grow upward. 
