130 TREES AND SHRUBS 



trees as the Beech and Horse Chestnut, that root 

 close to the surface of the soil quite different from 

 the Oak may often be invigorated by covering the 

 ground with a few inches of good soil or short 

 manure. Artificial watering, during prolonged 

 drought, when thoroughly done, is also very helpful 

 to the tree. Trees with large crowns of branches 

 are frequently seen thinly furnished with foliage, and 

 altogether sickly owing to unhealthy or insufficient 

 roots. The balance between top and bottom has 

 been destroyed. To restore it in some degree the 

 top-growth may be reduced by pruning out and 

 shortening back branches here and there, wherever 

 it can be done without spoiling the appearance of 

 the tree. This demands careful judgment, but some 

 old and sickly trees may certainly be restored in a 

 measure by this help. It is of no value in the case 

 of trees with decayed trunks, nor with those like our 

 Common Oak, which will not break readily from 

 old wood. But Elms, Robinias, and Red Oaks are 

 among those that respond to this treatment. 



Old trees with insecure branches can often be 

 saved from destruction by fastening the main 

 branches together on to the trunk. The common 

 practice of putting an iron collar round the branch 

 is a mistake. The iron prevents the branch expand- 

 ing naturally, and ultimately chokes it. A better 

 way is to use a strong iron rod with a plate at the 

 end, and instead of supporting the branch by 

 encircling it, a hole is bored right through the 

 centre of it, through which the rod is pushed from 



