The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-02-24
THE PRUNING OF SHADE TREES.
FBy Marion Sterne.

Pruning is the process of cutting
out part OF the tree for the improve
ment of the part left. This is nat
ural process which is done In the for
ests by nature. If man knows how
pruning should be done he can do a
much better job than nature can. The
trouble is that many people allow any
man, who says he Is /. tree-trimmer,
to trim their trees. Most of these
men are nothing but tree-butchers
who do not know the first principal
about tree-trimming.
] All trees In the city are common
property and are worth trimming. In
order to have the tree properly prun-
ed the owner should find out the best
method Of pruning trees and then
should stand by to see that this
method is followed out.
When young shoot or bud has Just
appeared, unless It is In good posi-
ton It should either be cut off or
put in . good position. The best tool
for this is the thumb and finger. In
the pruning Of trees saw Is the best
tool to use on the large limbs. Axes
and hatchets should never be used
as they make the surface ragged ana
tear the bark. The limb should be
sawed on level with the bark SO
that there is no projecting stub.
i The wound should be covered with
| q mixture OF white lead and linseed
oil, SO as to keep dirt, insects and the
spores of the fungi out OF the heart
wood. It often takes many years
for the wound to heal The bark
forms new tissue which is q roll
around the edge OF the wound.
+ A long stub should never be left
when the tree is pruned. It will de-
cay and the bark will drop from 1t.
/ 1t will never heal and will always
look badly. The tree-trimmer shoulc
be more careful as this will give him
bad name as trimmer.
Pruning the crown invigorates tbs
remaining branches. This is true be-
cause there are fewer branches while
the root system remains the same,
therefore the food supply is also the
same.
Imprinted trees produce more wood
Summer pruning reduces the strug
gle for light and air among the
!. leatves and twigs and makes stronger
, buds the next spring.
Winter pruning reduces the mum
, Der OF buds and therefore gives
greater vigor to the ones which dc
develop.
The best time to prune is just be
fore the growth starts In the spring
) while early winter pruning is bad fol
the tree because the wounds cannot
! heal until the following spring.
, Dead wood should be removed ant
burned at any season. This is be
cause 1t may contain insects ant
spores which viii harm the rest o
9 the tree.
y Yearly pruning is better than prun
k ing at less frequent intervals.
l. The pruning of a tree is for TIL
e purpose of keeping the dome intac
+ and in the proper shape. The prun
e ing of shade trees requires only tn
pruning of dead and broken limbs, o
those that interfere and crowd an
e of those which in the rainy season
n touch umbrellas. Limbs which ar
. nearly horizontal and Therefore liabl
1t to fall from their own weight, shout
d also be cut off. Nest times the tire
1t will take care of itself, and prunin
Of is only necessary when an acciden
N occurs
Il. When young tree is growing
j. should be trained in such a way tina
ID 1t win not have dangerous fork
ID but II fork does appear a bolt, an
lie not band, should be used to hol
i'd the limbs which will split If tire
lie Is struck by lightning or otherwis
h injured or is ro.ting the rotten WOO
or should be taken out of the hollo-
d. place and the wound should be clean,
ne ed with an antiseptic The FRAMEWORK
ne should then be strengthened by c,
er ment. This makes the tree stronge
Is In time the bark will cover the G,
ty ment.
or In the city a tree has many en-,
5a mics. The sidewalk and pavement
as cut off the water supply to the root
Id Wherever this prevails, tile shout
lg be buried near the tree and should b
OF filled each day with water In thi
m way the roots Will receive the mucl
needed water. Roots need to breath,
Oftentimes a leakage Is In tia sewe
or gas pipe: these vapors will suff,
10 cate and XII the roots Of tree whe
n men are digging for gas or waite
.. pipes a root will be in their patti
m They will very promptly Gu. this roc
,e and throw It away.
;e. Electric wires are another grea
n. enemy TO trees. The wires ri
We through the trees and very often XII
n. the crown. This can be prevented b
or putting the wires under the groun,
I'd Anputting them on the back OF 10,
of oT&y making the poles higher.
er In nature a tree IS never toppe
a unless II meets with terrible acc