Repairing Damage LIt 
habit of the tree or shrub, namely, whether it bears flowers 
on the old wood or on the new wood of the season. Most 
early bloomers develop their flower buds in the preceding 
year: the flowers are, therefore, borne on the old wood. It 
is evident that by heading back the last year’s growth, the 
bloom will be diminished. Such species, therefore (like 
Amelanchier, Aesculus, Catalpa, Cercis Crataegus, Halesia, 
Magnolia, Prunus, Pyrus, Robinia, also pear and peach), 
should be pruned after the flowers are past, and then merely 
by thinning out weakly, misplaced, and imperfect shoots, 
and shortening specially long ones. On the other hand, 
species which bear their flowers on the mew wood of the 
season in which they bloom (generally later bloomers) 
should be severely headed back in the fall or spring, if it 
is desired to increase the bloom. 
Generally speaking, severe pruning and heading back 
at the top tends to reduce flowering and to increase produc- 
tion of wood, since thereby the water-supply is relatively 
increased. Hence, to stimulate flower production, the 
pruning should be rather light and repeated annually. For 
the same reason, a dry season and root pruning, which 
decreases water-supply, stimulates flowering. 
Repairing Damage. Besides attention to the newly-made 
wounds in the operation of pruning, there is frequently 
needed a helping hand in mending neglected wounds and in 
repairing damage due to various mutilations of the bole, 
and to breakages by wind. 
In walking through the streets and parks of American 
cities and even through private preserves, the observant 
tree lover often comes to the conclusion that the American 
is either blind or sees beauty in disease, for malformations 
dué to rot and neglect are common everywhere. 
While the adage “never too late to mend” may often 
