8 



from belowj to avoid tearing the bark 

 and last layers of wood as the branch 

 falls. A chopping instrument, such as a 

 bill-hook, besides bruising and splitting 

 the wood, is apt to cut too close, or not 

 close enough. In the first case, the parts 

 are injured from which the new healing 

 growth is to proceed ; in the second 

 case, a dead stump is left to be enclosed 

 by the annually increasing stem, which is 

 probably rotten before it is enclosed. 

 Besides, a chopping instrument is not 

 adapted to getting between branches to 

 thin them out. These saws will pass 

 between branches which are too close 

 better even than the knife. One of 

 these blades fixed on a light rod is the 

 best instrument to clear leaders which 

 cannot be reached with a knife or a hand- 

 saw. In this case, work the saw in a line 

 with the stem of the tree ; not across it. 

 These saws may be bought at Coleman's, 

 cutler, Haymarket. 



