56 
Pruning may be performed with a pruning knife, secateurs, 
parang, or small hand-saw, but in all cases the branch should 
be removed as close to its base as possible, leaving a clean, slightly 
sloping cut. Cover the scar completely over with coaltar, taking 
care that no tar is allowed to trickle down the bark of the tree. As 
any unprotected wound or scar is liable to introduce fungi to the 
tree, it is better to apply the tar two times. i.e„ once immediately the 
branch has been removed and again about a fortnight later. Never 
leave scars or cuts unprotected for any length ol time. 
If it is decided to remove some of the branches say of a Mangos- 
teen tree, then immediately the fruit has been gathered is the best 
time to do so. This allows the remaining branches to enjoy, during 
the whole of the following growing period, the additional supply of 
sap thus caused, and consequently the tree produces larger and better 
fruits the ensuing season. When one sees the numerous inferior 
Mangosteens placed on the market, it is surprising that some such 
method of thinning out of the branches has not been practised. 
Neglecting to thin out the weaker branches is one of the causes by 
which we get an enormous crop of medium-sized fruits one season fol- 
lowed by a more or less dearth during the next season. Even in this 
country where growth is extremely rapid, a tree cannot be expected 
to yield large crops of first class fruits regularly each season, unless 
some such method of thinning out of branches is adopted. Ihe 
Chiku (Achras sapota) is another fruit which would be immensely 
improved by the judicious removal of many of the weak branches 
The first thing to be done when priming trees, shrubs or any sort 
of plant is commenced is the removal of all dead and dying branches 
(even if nothing else is done, all such branches should be removed as 
soon as they appear.) All the weak and useless shoots should then 
be removed. In pruning ornamental trees or shrubs one must 
endeavour to preserve the natural symmetry of the plant, but if as is 
often the case, one branch has a tendency to outgrow its neighbours, 
then it may be pruned about two feet lower than the tips of the 
others. If, however, on branching again it still has the same 
tendency, it should be removed altogether as this excess of growth is 
probably due to its being in direct contact with a large and strong root. 
Shade trees and roadside trees in particular require frequent 
primings to obtain the necessary amount of shade with the minimum 
amount of waste branches. To do this, one must commence pruning 
■shortly after they are removed to their permanent -quarters. In 
many instances, young trees are lifted from the nursery beds and 
planted without the least care and forethought. Preparations shou d 
be made some time beforehand so that the roots are exposed to as 
few drying influences as possible. 
Seedling trees have usually one main shoot which vanes in 
length according to the vigour of each particular variety. It such a 
tree as this be lifted and planted, in all probability the leaves shrivel 
and die, causing the death of th3 shoot two th-ree feet from the tip. 
It takes some considerable time for the tree to recover from such 
a check and also produces an unnecessary amount of lateral 
