Pruning Street Trees 109 
trees. The use of climbing irons should be avoided, as 
well as other methods which would damage the bark. A 
heavy pruning cleaver for medium-sized twigs and prun- 
ing knives and shears of various shapes for the smaller 
twigs are useful. For the 
latter, a long handled chisel 
with a guide (Victor Pruner) 
in practised hands, is an ex- 
cellent tool. Chisel and ham- 
mer may sometimes be needed 
to smooth cut surfaces and to 
cut out rotten wood. For 
small branches, up to three- 
quarter inch diameter, the cut- 
ting shear tree-pruners either 
with or without pole and rope 
are serviceable, various forms 
being on the market. The 
main’ point to look out for is 
that the cutting edges pass 
close past each other and that 
they can readily be kept in such relation, that the spring 
opening the blades be sufficiently strong, and yet not too 
strong, that the grips are not closing up too closely, and 
that the tool be kept sharp. Common sheep shears answer 
for light trimming as well as any other more fanciful tool. 
Pruning Street Trees. The pruning of street trees should 
begin early, while the tree is still young, so as gradually to 
secure the proper form — a well-defined main shaft and a 
symmetrical crown of branches starting well above the heads 
of the passers-by. If this trimming is done within a few 
years after planting and is repeated regularly every two or 
three years, the necessity of removing heavy branches, 
ay 
Or eat Hh 
t ' pli it 
| 
ci oy ree TT 
a mee = 
Fic. 41.—“‘ Waters’” tree-pruners. 
