SUPPORTING HEAVY BRANCHES 45 



Three double-strand galvanised wires at- 

 tached to the trunk at three-fourths its height, 

 and made fast to adjoining trees in opposite 

 directions, will go far in preserving an old and 

 unsafe tree from falling to pieces. Should no 

 trees be convenient to which the wires can be 

 attached, stout posts placed in the ground will 

 serve the purpose, but they are dangerous to 

 pedestrians, and should only be used in places 

 from which the public are excluded. Wooden 

 props are to be preferred in positions to which 

 the public have access, and often, by careful 

 manipulation, the stability of an old and 

 crumbling tree is ensured by this method of 

 treatment. 



In the accompanying illustration the brace 

 has been placed much too low or near the 

 fork, the consequence being that as a stay or 

 support it is practically valueless. It should 

 have been placed at least three times its present 

 height from the fork ; also the connecting wires 

 are much too light to withstand the move- 

 ments of the heavy limbs to which they arc 

 attached. But altogether the system adopted 

 is bad in the extreme, and points out how use- 



