112 



General Care of Trees 



practically be untenable, there are nevertheless many cases 

 of neglect where a skilful surgeon can at least improve 

 matters. 



All stumps left from improper pruning or from breakages 

 of branches should, of course, be removed, and the newly 

 made wounds, as well as neglected old branch wounds, j^rop- 

 erly treated. If the rot has penetrated into the trunk, it is 

 well to gouge out as much rotten wood as possible, then 

 apply an antiseptic, such as the Bordeaux mixture or per- 

 N haps carbolineum (a mixture of heavy coal-tar oils), which 

 especially if applied hot, will not only kill the fungus my- 

 celium for some distance, but 

 also exclude air and new 

 infection. Then cover with a 

 heavy coat of paint or tar. 

 If the cavity is large, plug up 

 with wood and paint, or fill up 

 with rubble and cement, or 

 with cement alone. In this way 

 the trunk of a stately oak, per- 

 haps a thousand years old, 

 which had been hollowed out 

 by decay, was restored to 

 stability, the cavity being built 

 up with brick and cement, 

 and the color and fissures of 

 the bark were successfully imi- 

 tated. 



Mutilations of the trunk or 



bole are treated in a manner 



similar to that prescribed for neglected branch wounds. 



In these cases, if no healthy and regular callus formation 



has begun, the wound should be trimmed back on its mar- 



FiG. 43. — Branch holes and their 

 treatment. To the right a 

 plugged branch hole satisfac- 

 torily healed; to the left, a 

 similiar hole untreated, giving 

 entrance to rot. 



