be nice to your dentist

because he or she may have a used mirror that they'd part with......

Ever notice how tricky it can be when it comes to discerning if wire is biting in. Over the years I've noticed it's easier to tell on the underside of most branches. hence the use of a mirror. I find the little mirrors the dentist use as a quick and easy method to see what's going on...

Interesting method, and I have that difficulty! Why do you think it shows there quicker?

must have something to do with our application, up lifting the wire too snug or something. Don't think it has anything to do with the tree itself....hope this idea works as well for all as it has for me....

Good tip, Dick.

Something to get your teeth into.

Here's my reaction : I must be a gymnosperm - my underside keeps getting bigger    

I'm sorry to get all serious on you - I really do love puns, double entendres, and most all sorts of word play - but I just can't help myself.  

First, it is implicit that Dick is talking about conifers (i.e., gymnosperms). It is well known that conifers produce reaction wood on the underside. Extra growth occurs underneith to keep the branch from sagging or to upright a leaning trunk, for that matter. If we could wire angiosperms for long periods as we do conifers, we wouldn't need any mirrors, because the extra growth is on top!

Gymnosperms produce reaction wood to push up against gravity.
Angiosperms produce reaction wood to pull up against gravity.

Here's a picture of a branch stump on a big ol' Douglas fir (the lopped off branch originally emerged perpendicular to the trunk and then bent upwards)

well, i'll be... chalk today up to another day of learning something new... thanks for getting serious on us.

0soyoung wrote:I really do love puns, double entendres, and most all sorts of word play

well, maybe you dont always love word play
(and that is truly said in jest re: our last PMs)

as you know, i do too and i was wondering how many puns, etc fiona could fit into two simple sentences

peace oso

kevin

They say it takes a "villiage" and am grateful for another resident of Washington state to fill us in.

I hereby award you an honorary IBC "attaboy"...

The punitentiary is fast filling up.