troy the body of the tree.
Coal tar is by far preferable to paint and other substances for
covering the wound. The tar penetrates the exposed wood, producing
an antiseptic as well as a protective effect. Paint only forms a
covering, which may peel off in course of time and which will later
protrude from the cut, thus forming, between the paint and the wood,
a suitable breeding place for the development of destructive fungi
or disease. The application of tin covers, burlap, or other bandages
to the wound is equally futile and in most cases even injurious.

[Illustration: FIG. 115.--Result of a Wound not Covered with Coal Tar.
The exposed wood cracked and decay set in.]

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Pruning shade trees: Here, the object is to produce a symmetrical crown
and to have the lowest branches raised from the ground sufficiently
high to enable pedestrians to pass under with raised umbrellas. Such
pruning should, therefore, necessarily be light and confined to the
low limbs and dead branches.

Pruning lawn trees: Here the charm of the tree lies in the low reach of
the branches and the compactness of the crown. The pruning should,
therefore, be limited to the removal of dead and diseased branches
only.

Pruning forest trees: Forest trees have a greater commercial value when
their straight trunks are free from branches. In the forest, nature
generally accomplishes this result and artificial pruning seldom has
to be resorted to. Trees in the forest grow so closely together that
they shut out the sunlight from their lower limbs, thus causing the
latter to die and fall off. This is known as natural pruning. In
some European forests, nature is assisted in its pruning by workmen,
who saw off the side branches before they fall of their own accord;
but in this country such practice would be considered too expensive,
hence it is seldom adopted.

TOOLS USED IN PRUNING

Good tools are essential for quick and effective work in pruning. Two or
three good saws, a pair of pole-shears, a pole-saw, a 16-foot single
ladder, a 40-foot extension ladder of light spruce or pine with hickory
rungs, a good pruning knife, plenty of coal tar, a fire-can to heat the
tar, a pole-brush, a small hand brush and plenty of good rope comprise
the principal equipment of the pruner.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE SAFETY OF TREE CLIMBERS

1. Before climbin