102 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
added until the wound is covered. If the 
wound is small this may be done in a 
single season, but if large it will take 
several years. 
THE STUB. 
If a branch is cut off a few inches from 
the tree the cut end of the stub does not 
generally heal over. There is no life in 
it, it dies back and acts as a foreign body. 
In ninety-nine per cent of cases, the tree 
makes an effort to heal over the wound at 
the base of the stub. It is impossible how¬ 
ever for it to succeed as the tree cannot 
exert sufficient pressure to cut it off and 
the callus frequently formis a mound 
about its base. 
The stub usually disappears in time by 
rotting off and the result is a knot hole. 
The first principle in pruning is to leave 
no stubs. 
KNOT HOLES. 
When the stub I'ots away, leaving a 
knot hole, the rain enters, sand and dirt 
are blown into it. Sufficient soil is fre¬ 
quently formed for plants to grow in it. 
Everything favors the extension of the 
rotting process. The heartwood in the 
trunk and branches sometimes even down 
into the roots is destroyed. A strong 
wind blows the tree over, and we wonder 
why it fell. 
The rotting of the wood is not due to 
chemical or atmospheric action. It is due 
to minute plants^—fungi andl bacteria. 
These live and grow in the wood and 
bring about its destruction. The fruiting 
parts of some of the fungi are quite large, 
those of the shelf fungi for instance. 
WHERE TO CUT. 
We have learned that the stub is objec¬ 
tionable and injurious to the trees in that 
it prevents the healing process. Leave no 
stubs. Make the cut as close as possible to 
the part that is to remain and in making 
the cut hold the 'saw*parallel to^ the branch 
or trunk from which the branch is i*emov- 
ed. 
The cut should be as smooth as it is pos¬ 
sible toi make it. It heals better. 
TO PREVENT SPLITTING. 
If the branch is large and) heavy, an 
accident often occurs in close cutting. 
When the branch is half cut off, its weight 
causes it to split and frequently the injury 
extends down along the trunk of the tree. 
This may be prevented by making a cut 
on the underside of the branch half way 
through it a foot or two out from the 
trunk. Then on the upper side three or 
four inches farther out another cut should 
be made half way through. The branch 
will drop off. The resulting stub can 
then be cut off where it should be. 
WOUND PROTECTION. 
A wound has been made and the inner 
portion of the tree is exposed, how can 
rotting be prevented? By covering the 
cut surface with something which will 
prevent the entrance of decay. The most 
desirable substance is one which will stick 
well, wear well and at the same time not 
interfere with the healing process. x\s a 
dressing for tree wounds many different 
materials have been used, such as shellac, 
grafting wax, tar and paint. 
Ordinary grafting wax is not good, it 
curls up around the edges and peels off. 
A formula used by Mr. W. S. Hart is ex¬ 
cellent : One pound of resin and two 
ounces of tallow; 'melt these anci mix 
thoroughly. Remove from the fire and 
