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MANUAL OF GARDENING 



and 145 show the tops of trees after pruning. Strong branchy 

 trees, as apples, pears, and ornamental trees, are usually headed 

 back in this way, upon planting. If the tree 

 has one straight leader and many or several 

 slender branches (Fig. 146), it is usually 

 pruned, as in Fig. 147, each branch being 

 cut back to one or two buds. If there are 

 no branches, or very few of them, — in which 

 case there will be good buds upon the main 

 stem, — the leader may be cut back a third 

 or half its length, to a mere whip. Ornamen- 

 tal bushes with long tops are usually cut 

 144. Pruned young back a third or a half when set, as shown 



tree. pig. 45. 



Always leave a little of the small 

 bud-making growth. The practice of 

 cutting back shade trees to mere long 

 clubs, or poles, with no small twigs, 

 is to be discouraged. The tree in 

 such case is obhged to force out ad- 

 ventitious buds from the old wood, 

 and it may not have vigor enough to 

 do this; and the process may be so 

 long delayed as to allow the tree to be 

 overtaken by drought before it gets a 

 start. 



Removing very large trees. 145. Pruned young tree. 



Very large trees can often be moved with safety. It is es- 

 sential that the transplanting be done when the trees are per- 

 fectly dormant, — winter being preferable, — that a large mass 

 of earth and roots be taken with the tree, and that the top be 

 vigorously cut back. Large trees are often moved in winter 

 on a stone-boat, by securing a large ball of earth frozen about 



