108 General Care of Trees 
ened, especially those inclined to compete with the leaders 
or to assume a vertical position. In shortening these, the 
cut should be made at the point at which they begin to 
assume upright positions, and, if possible, just above some 
secondary ascending branch or branches, and these in turn 
should also be shortened, just above one of their secondary 
branches, as shown in the accompanying schematic figure. 
In other words, the upper branch is the one preferably to 
be removed. Care must be taken to leave enough branch- 
lets to insure sufficient food elaboration for feeding the main 
branch. This is especially essential in old trees. The 
branches left are significantly called “sap lifters.” By 
their development they will gradually outgrow and straighten 
the angles made by the removal of their competitors. 
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Fic. 40. —~ ‘‘ Victor” tree-pruner. 
The illustration taken from Des Cars will suffice, without 
further explanation, to show how properly pruned trees may 
appear, according to his notion. 
Tools. ‘The tools to be used in pruning are of impor- 
tance. The axeis not a serviceable tool and should be used 
only in the rough work, such as the first cutting back of 
branches which are afterward to be taken off by the saw. 
A fine-toothed, narrow-bladed, stiff saw is in most cases 
the best tool. Various bow-shaped saws are in the market, 
but they have little advantage over the straight blade in 
skilful hands. Stiffness is, however, an important quality, 
and a thin blade stretched in a steel frame answers best. A 
double-edged pruning saw on a long handle can be used to 
advantage only for medium-high work. Extension ladders 
and closer approach to the work are necessary on larger 
