INJURED BARK 51 



has become detached from the wood will never 

 again unite, but simply form a breeding ground 

 for injurious insects. Should the wood from 

 which the bark has been accidentally removed 

 be injured in any way, the pruning chisel may 

 be requisitioned and all the damaged portions 

 carefully cut away and the surface smoothed 

 over before the tar is applied. 



On old commons and open grounds, where 

 at one time cattle-grazing was allowed, many 

 of the trees suffer from wounds and disease 

 that were originally contracted through bark 

 injuries ; and even nowadays, in our public 

 parks, the cricket-bat and knife of the visitor 

 have much to answer for in the matter of 

 maimed and injured trees. Trees in olden 

 times, too, suffered much from being used as 

 fencing and gate-posts, the permanent injuries 

 from which, in the driving of nails, bolts, 

 hinges, and wire attachments, are plainly visible 

 at the present time. Little can now be done 

 for such, though, where fungus has attacked 

 the injured bark and trunk, a careful system of 

 pruning and dressing with tar will lend a 

 helping hand in arresting decay. 



