CHAPTER V 

 THE MANAGEMENT OF DECAYING TREES 



THE question of the management of old and 

 decaying trees in urban and suburban dis- 

 tricts is one of considerable importance, and 

 which, possibly through ignorance, rarely 

 receives the attention it deserves. 



From various causes, apart from atmo- 

 spheric conditions, such as poverty or poison- 

 ing of the soil, attacks of insect and fungoid 

 pests or accident to limb or stem, old trees 

 may become stag-headed, hollow and un- 

 healthy and, if not promptly attended to, 

 may die out altogether. Probably the most 

 prolific cause of decay arises from non-atten- 

 tion to wounds on the stem and larger 

 branches which have been brought about by 

 the wind or other agency. Where a 

 branch has been broken off, the greatest 

 care is necessary to prevent rain entering at 



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