E showed me how to form a master leader on evergreens 

 where two leaders grew ruining the contour of the tree. 

 The shorter or less desirable leader is cut away com- 

 pletely and the cut covered with creosote, a strong green- 

 colored stake long enough to extend above the top of the tree is 

 deeply driven into the ground at a point where it can go between 

 the roots (which is quickly ascertained by lifting a spadeful of the 

 soil), the remaining leader is tied with strong tape to the stake 

 from below the point where the other was removed, and is also 

 tied at intervals, to within several inches of the top. The tying 

 tape should be quite loose, tightening gradually to draw the leader 

 into line. In about a month it will hold to center and form a true 

 leader. 



He explained to me why certain side growths on some of my 

 white and Colorado Blue Spruces were dying. It was due to an 

 independent miniature tree that frequently forms on a side branch 

 of Spruces and other short-needled evergreens. He showed me 

 how to cut it completely away, which is easily done by removing 

 the whole growth and touching the cut with creosote, and by re- 

 moving this abnormal growth the tree is no longer robbed of its 

 vitality. 



58 



