HOW SHOULD WE LOP TREES (From the Gardener's Chronicle)

Waikato Times, Volume VI, Issue 309, 7 May 1874, Page 3

HOW SHOULD WE LOP TREES (From the Gardener's Chronicle )

1 have not lately seen any reference in jour columns to the severe, or what may not improperly be cilled the bnrbarous system of pruning, winch Ins sometimes to bo undertaken bj most of us, in the nse of those trees which overhang roads or buildings, or winch unduly crowd each other, or, in other cases, when the branchea die back. In all these caies we cut them down <o the base or connection with the main stem, in the hopes of staying further decay. The aubject ii deserving of much consideration of till who mine trees and shrubs, and who may be called nj>on at any time to perform the operation of lopping off the larger branches of valuable trees of any kind. From much obwratioh I hare come to the conclusion that there is no fixed rule by which to guide our practice in this matter, all being left to individual whim or fancy. That there is a proper and an improper method of procedure I need scarcely say, and it \n with a view to arriving at a proper conclusion as* to what is right and what wrong practice that I now produce the •übject. Far too generally we see large branches cut off some few inches (aay 3 to 5) from the bole or trunk to which they are attached. This u done generally in the hope that by not cutting it off too close to the trunk the danger of injuring the latter is materially decreased. Now, I am prepared to maintain that tkis is a system greatly injurious to the trees so operated on. Instead of being an aid to the trees in their struggle against decay, it is productive of just that state of things winch it should be our hrst consideration to prevent. From numerous instances 7h , # ♦?* TC D undeP m - v ob » erv «tion :ately,l have found . that the stump system of lopping not only disposes the ' portion so left to decay, but almost causes instantaneous decay to set in. It i» besides a system entirely antagonistic to the formation of new bark, which is so necessary for the healing over of the wound. Strange as it may seem, in the majority of instances this stump does not wholly decay nt the first, but the under half of it dies and rots away down to the very pith or centre of the mam trunk. if I am asked why the limb so severed decays, my onh answer is that the limb so severed was cut transversely, and across the entire structural system, in just such a manner a*, possibly, to precluda ita healing over. No one would expect for one moment to see the bark grow over and heal up tha» r Ol l u bl>ing the case tben » w!) J expect the lesser limb to heal under p-ecisely similar treatment? I trust I have said and shown enough to affirm the fact, to a certain extent at least, that the lengthened lopping of tree limbs is a practice ant.gonistic to their well-being and longevity. Uy cutting away the branch close to the bole, the wound ™ in f> >« *. lj ne with the longitudinal, or natural growth of the bark is induced to grow naturally, and to cover the ■wound, which it will do, and in many instances entirely, wiiere the wounds are healed, decay is stnyed, owin<* to the exclusion of air, and, what is more, such an unsightly object p lO PPed limbs present when cut in this way is avoided .ferhaps other obser»ers can give us their experiences herein. — Wikiam Eablbs-, Valentines.