PREVENTING DISEASE 183 



the roots in so doing. A digging fork is 

 preferable to a spade for this work, and the 

 operation should be carried out, not in circles 

 around the tree stem, but in a line with the 

 direction of root-run. The most suitable top- 

 dressing for the majority of trees is good, 

 sound loam, mixed with leaf-soil or wood ashes, 

 and spread on the surface to a depth of about 

 six inches much depending on the age and 

 size of the tree to be operated upon and for 

 a space outwards from the trunk as far as the 

 branches extend. About the fall of the leaf 

 is the best time to apply the top-dressing, the 

 winter rains washing in the chemical agents 

 as food for the roots. In conjunction with 

 the top-dressing, pruning the dead branches 

 from the trees should be taken in hand, the 

 advice given elsewhere about cutting well 

 back to the living wood being attended to. 



We have known many instances in which 

 sickly trees have taken a fresh lease of life 

 after being treated as above directed. In some 

 cases ash trees from 50 to 70 feet high, and 

 growing in heavy loam abutting on stiff clay, 

 when so treated after they had shown signs of 



