85 



takes a. heavy aud continuous fall of rain to pcnotrate to tlic roots 

 again. After a dry period I liave frequently noticed that e\en a 

 day's persistent rain will not penetrate more than two or three 

 Indies below the surface on some of our lawns. It is evident 

 enough, therefore, how a failing tree may he benefited by having 

 the hard surface soil broken up, even if the turf be rolaid. Still 



1*\/^>^/^ t4- '■4- *~k-^ -■-* I ^ ^ I X___ iT 1 ti«.-a 



ated. 



more if it can be kept permanently open and cultiv; 



Parasitic Fungi — Probably neither storms nor root-starvatioji 

 hasten the end of trees so much as parasitic fungi. It is often 

 their attacks that fatally reduce the wind-resisting power of trees, 

 lu its bark the tree is endowed by nature with an armour capable 

 of resisting fungoid attack. But this i\rmour is often pierced by 

 breakages, by insects and, in gardens, through bad pruning. 

 Cultivators who especially treasure a particular tree should see 

 that its " skin " is maintained whoJe. AVhene\er a wotind 

 appears measures should be taken to heal it. Tlie most vulnerable 

 part of a tree, of course, is its trunk, then its main limbs. Th 

 outer extremities do not matter so much, although it is often pos- 

 sible for disease to start there and gradually creep inwards to the 

 main limbs and trunk. 



In travelling about the country it is evident to any one who 

 has any knowledge of this matter, that the most common cause of 

 decay is due to neglect of snags. Hollow trunks, or decayed 



r> 



cavities Lave iuvariablj their origin in neglecteil stumps left b\ 

 brandies being broken ofi: by wind, or to that curious propensity 

 nianj' people A\ho ])rune off branches have to hnive stumps a few 

 inches lone-, instead of sawiiier ihein clean back to the trunk or 

 limb irom which they spring (see Plate II, fig. iii). 



It may bo stated as an axiom that when a brancli 1ms to be 

 removed, or wlien the stump of a branch is left through breakage 

 by wind, it must be cut right back to, and in line with, the 

 circumference of the trunk or larger branch to which it has 

 been attached. The new bark whicli it sliould be one's aim to 

 cncouiage to grow over tlie wound and tlius make it secure against 



decav, will 



most 



A 



m 



A ^/ ^ -_ _ _ ^ 



grow over it, but, if more than an inch or two long (according to 

 tlie size of the trunk) the bark will never cover the wound, decay 

 sooner or later is set up, damp enters, and a cavitv begins fo form. 

 After a while this will become large enough to hold water and 

 then, as one may imagine, decay is doublv rnpid. 



Even when the amputation lias been done in the best way, the 

 raw surface of the wound is still a source of danger as the land- 

 ing-place for the spores of parasitic fungi. Especially is this the 

 case with Koft woods like lime and horsechestnut. The best 

 preventive is a good coating of ordinary coal tar applied at once. 

 This substance forms an air-tight and water-tiglit covering and 

 t'ftVctually disposes of any danger from fungi. The wound shouhl 

 »<" examined again a few months after it has been made, and if 

 i^ocessary a fresh coat of tar put on. Wounds soin*>times crack 

 througli summer heat, and tlie openings should be filled in with 

 tar and made water-tight. The tar, in fact, acts as a tempera rr 

 bark until the new bark extends over the wound, and it should be 



