66 TREE WOUNDS AND DISEASES 



accident and rejuvenate the trees, to shorten 

 back the larger upper and side branches. The 

 treatment has been attended by the most 

 beneficial results, as will be observed by the 

 present healthy appearance and well-furnished 

 heads that the trees have formed. 



The elm responds quickly to pruning or 

 pollarding, and even though the stem may 

 be partially hollow, its wonderful recuperative 

 powers after being beheaded are perhaps greater 

 than those of any other tree, and, as will be seen 

 from the accompanying illustration, aerial roots 

 are sometimes sent out from the damaged 

 stem. Occasionally these extend downwards 

 till they become rooted in the soil. In the 

 case of the Regent's Park elms referred to, 

 the majority had been struck by lightning 

 many years ago, and owing to non-attention 

 some were partially hollow, others with deep, 

 wide scars where the lightning had passed 

 along the trunks and main branches, while all 

 were more or less infested by the goat moth 

 and elm bark beetle, as also several species of 

 fungus. Rotten wood and bark were removed 

 and all scars thoroughly cleaned and painted 



