2 TREE WOUNDS AND DISEASES 



trees. Various other causes, too, contribute 

 to the same result, such as atmospheric 

 conditions, poverty or poisoning of the soil, 

 excessive dampness, all of which, if not 

 rectified in time, soon lay the foundation for 

 a host of other diseases, such as heart-rot, 

 stagheadedness, rust and mildew, and the de- 

 velopment of many species of fungi, the devas- 

 tating inroads of any of which may in many 

 cases be prevented, or at least lessened, by 

 timely care and the application of suitable 

 remedies judiciously applied according to the 

 requirements and circumstances of the par- 

 ticular case. 



A plate of lead or zinc, a dressing of tar, or 

 the filling up of a cavity with suitable com- 

 position will often, and at a minimum of 

 expense, preserve a desirable specimen from 

 falling into too rapid decay ; while a properly 

 adjusted chain or brace will go far in preventing 

 an unwieldy or diseased branch from being 

 broken over by the wind. In cases where the 

 soil has become caked and impoverished and 

 the vital energy of the tree impaired thereby, 

 a dressing of rich loam or other suitable soil 



