32 TREE WOUNDS AND DISEASES 



elm, Lebanon cedar, and evergreen oak, this 

 method of bracing and connecting the heavier 

 limbs is to be recommended as being readily 

 carried out and most efficient. In the case of 

 young or quickly growing trees which, how- 

 ever, it is rarely necessary to operate upon 

 the bands passing around the limbs should be 

 made considerably larger than the size of the 

 branch to be encircled. A padding of disused 

 leather belting or rubber will fill up the inter- 

 vening space and leave room for the expansion 

 of the branch. Accurate measurements as to 

 the size and shape of the limb to be operated 

 upon must be taken, and the girdling hoops 

 made accordingly. In order to do so, the best 

 way is to ascend the tree, and, after arranging 

 as to the points where bracing is to take 

 place, encircle each branch with a strip of 

 hoop iron, which will not only give the size 

 but shape of the particular limb a most 

 important point where neatness is studied 

 and after-chafing of the bark and wood is to 

 be avoided. 



In the case of old trees, or such as are not 

 likely to increase greatly in size, the bands 



