SUPPORTING HEAVY BRANCHES 37 



wide band of iron, which should be placed at 

 such a height that the greatest possible re- 

 sistance to splitting of the stem is brought 

 about. Such bands are usually of a size pro- 

 portionate to the strain of the stem to which 

 they are to act as support. A band of leather 

 or rubber between the iron and bark, to allow 

 for expansion of the stem, is necessary. 



Occasionally we have to deal with injury 

 caused by the friction of two branches, whether 

 on the same or different trees. The best plan 

 in such cases is to cut off or shorten beyond 

 the point of injury one of the branches, but 

 where such is not admissible they may be kept 

 apart by carefully arranged braces. Wounds 

 caused by the rubbing of two branches are 

 sometimes deep-seated and require cautious 

 treatment in the matter of pruning, and the 

 application of a suitable solution to keep out 

 the damp. 



Supporting tree branches by chains, though 

 frequently carried out in the past, is not to 

 be recommended, for the simple reason that, 

 however carefully they may be adjusted, friction 

 and charing of the bark and wood are sooner or 



