PRUNING. 



35 



the buds are swelling, and the sap is in full flow, as the loss of sap by- 

 bleeding is very injurious to most trees, and in some brings on a serious 

 and incurable canker in the limbs. 



In pruning large limbs, some composition should always be at hand 

 to cover the wound. This will not only prevent its cracking by the 

 cold in winter-pruning, but will keep out the air, and maintain the 

 exposed wood in a sound state until it is covered with a new layer of 

 bark. Many compositions have been in fashion abroad for this pur- 

 pose, which under our summer sun and wintry frosts are nearly worth- 

 less, as they generally crack and fall off in a single year. The following 

 is a cheap and admirable application, which we recommend to all culti- 

 vators of fruit-trees. 



Composition for wounds made in pruning. Take a quart of alcohol 

 and dissolve in it as much gum-shellac as will make a liquid of the con- 

 sistence of paint. Apply this to the wound with a common painter's 

 brush ; always paring the wound smoothly first with the knife. The 

 liquid becomes perfectly hard, adheres closely, excludes the air perfectly, 

 and is affected by no changes of weather ; while at the same time its 

 thinness offers no resistance to the lip of new bark that gradually closes 

 over the wound. If the composition is kept in a well-corked bottle, 

 sufficiently wide-mouthed to admit the brush, it will always be ready for 

 use and suited to the want of the moment. 



To prevent mice or rabbits from girdling trees. Great inj ury is done to 

 young orchards in some districts by the meadow mouse. This little ani- 

 mal always works under cover, and therefore does its mischief in winter 

 when the snow lies deeply upon the ground. A common and effectual mode 

 of deterring it is that of treading down the snow firmly about the stem 

 directly after every fall of snow. But this is a very troublesome affair. 



The following mixture will be found to be an effectual prevention. 

 Take one spadeful of hot slaked lime, one do. of clean cow-dung, half do. 

 of soot, one handful of flowers of sulphur : mix the whole together with the 

 addition of sufficient water to bring it to the consistency of thick paint. 

 At the approach of winter paint the trunks of the trees sufficiently high to 

 be beyond the reach of these vermin. Experience has proved that it does 

 no injury to the tree. A dry day should be chosen for its application. 



English nurserymen are in the habit of protecting nurseries of small 

 trees from the attacks of rabbits, simply by distributing through the 

 squares of the nursery coarse matches made by dipping bunches of rags, 

 or bits of tow, in melted sulphur, and fastening these in split stakes a 

 couple of feet high. The latter are stuck into the ground, among the 

 trees, at from 12 to 20 feet apart, and are said completely to answer the 

 purpose. 



Wrapping the body of the tree with coarse hardware paper, letting 

 the lower end of the paper go below the soil at the crown of the tree, 

 will effectually prevent the attacks of rabbits. 



Wash for the trunks and branches of fruit-trees. The best wash for 

 the stems and branches of fruit-trees is made by dissolving two pounds 

 of potash in two gallons of water. This is applied with a brush at any 

 season, but perhaps with most effect in the spring. One, or at most 

 two applications will rid the stem of trees of the bark-louse, and render 

 it smooth and glossy. It is far more efficacious than whitewash, as a 

 preservative against the attacks of insects, while it promotes the growth 

 of the tree, and adds to the natural lively color of the bark. 



