TREE PROTECTION 29 



Attention should next be given to the matter of severing any remaining roots 

 holding the stump in place. At this point the stump without root attachments 

 should be in such relationship with the ground that except for its weight it could 

 be readily removed from the hole. The closely packed soil about the roots, may 

 be removed with a pickaxe or washed off with a strong stream of water when 

 this facility is available. The use of water, even if dependence has to be placed 

 upon a heavy rainstorm, has advantages, particularly if local conditions permit 

 good drainage. 



The root ball, free from soil, should then be allowed to dry thoroughly and any 

 parts of it which can be chopped off should be eliminated. In this way the stump 

 remaining for ultimate destruction can be still further reduced, and any axe blows 

 which fail to sever parts of the root stump completely enough for removal will 

 not be in vain since they will aid in the final destructive process. 



The appearance and condition of the stump at this stage in the operations 

 should determine whether additional openings in the form of holes bored with an 

 auger are necessary before the application of kerosene. Intermittent applications 

 of kerosene daily allowing time for adequate penetration through entrances cut 

 and bored near the top of and throughout the stump, should be as numerous as 

 the varying tonditions may require. When penetration with kerosem is reasonably 

 complete, dry rubbish, placed over and about the stump, should be ignited. The 

 stump will then be either partially or completely consumed, depending upon the 

 thoroughness of preparation. 



This method of destroying stumps may be curtailed or elaborated according 

 to the results desired. Sometimes the only objective may be the reduction of 

 size to permit burial of the stump in its original site. In other cases complete 

 destruction or reduction of the stump to a size which will permit easy removal is 

 necessary. It is obvious that this discussion is concerned principally with the 

 destruction of individual stumps in small-scale operations by a reasonably safe 

 method. Large-scale operations may employ temporary chimney construction, 

 forced draft burners, or explosives. The method outlined is of use primarily to 

 persons without expensive equipment or knowledge of machinery and construc- 

 tion. The chief penalties are the time consumed and the extra work necet^ary 

 in preparation. 



Detecting and Reporting Defects. During the summer season, dead, defoliated, 

 and injured trees are often easily spotted by the absence, sparseness, or discolor- 

 ation of leaves. At other seasons signs of injury are less conspicuous, but frac- 

 tured limbs and some other injuries may be more clearly seen because of the 

 absence of foliage. The weight of snow and ice on branches sometimes causes 

 injury to trees, and prompt treatment or removal of injured parts should prevent 

 tree injuries from becoming injuries to persons or property. 



The extent of damage to utilities' wires and other property resulting from fall- 

 ing trees indicates the need for detecting badly weakened trees before they 

 collapse. It may be pointed out that there is need for all utilities to keep their 

 lines under inspection and arrange for the immediate removal of any hazards 

 which threaten them. Intelligent cooperation by the public in reporting to their 

 municipal tree departments all dangerous trees, will aid in preventing service 

 failures and destruction of scarce materials. 



