PRUNING TREES AND SHRUBS 8 _ 87 
cuts will soon start to heal over, and in a few years the 
wound will be completely covered. 
In the trimming of Maples and certain thin-barked 
trees care must be taken not to cut too many limbs out 
of the South and West portions of the tree, otherwise the 
hot sun will strike the upper part of the trunk and the 
large limbs which were previously shaded, with a conse¬ 
quent scalding and killing of the bark. 
Branches should always be removed with two cuts to 
avoid tearing the bark beneath the branch when the sev¬ 
ered branch falls. The first cut should be made 2 or 3 
feet from the trunk. After the limb has been severed the 
stub can be held while the second cut is made close to the 
trunk. Sometimes it is better to hold the stub with a rope 
while making the second cut. This practice of removing 
branches with two cuts will always result in better cuts 
and avoid the tearing of the bark when the limb falls. 
All cuts larger than a silver dollar should be painted 
with tar. Thick paint or white lead and oil makes a good 
protective covering where tar is not to be had. This 
dressing will prevent decay until the bark grows over the 
wound. 
PRUNING EVERGREENS. 
Ordinarily Evergreens require little pruning. The 
branches of evergreens should be permitted to grow to the 
ground and evergreens should not be trimmed up as in 
the case of deciduous trees. 
The best way to prune evergreens is to shape the 
plant by cutting back each protruding shoot, leaving the 
shorter and weaker branches untouched. The principal 
trimming should be done in early Spring just before 
growth starts, but plants can be improved in appearance 
by slight pruning in the Summer, whenever irregular 
growth is produced. 
