74 TREE WOUNDS AND DISEASES 



ment, these in most cases being merely the 

 first stage in the gradual death of the tree, or 

 senile decay. Old oaks are particularly liable 

 to become stagheaded, a term that has been 

 given from the fact that the upper branches 

 become gradually denuded of leaves and twigs 

 and assume the appearance of stag-horns. 



But it is not only the oak that suffers in 

 this way, for beech woods often become stag- 

 headed before the trees have arrived at maturity. 

 The elm, when subjected to too great an amount 

 of dampness in the soil, often loses its crown ; 

 and the poplar, willow, and alder, which favour 

 damp situations, fall a prey to stagheadedness 

 in light, warm soils. Stagheaded oaks and 

 other broad-leaved trees usually remain alive 

 for many years before succumbing, and much 

 may be done not only to arrest decay but to 

 generally improve the appearance of the trees 

 by judicious pruning. 



The old Spanish chestnuts in Greenwich Park 

 and oaks at Richmond before referred to are 

 examples of trees that have become stagheaded 

 and unhealthy owing to their age. In each 

 case, however, much good has resulted from 



