MANAGEMENT OF DECAYING TREES 41 



saucer-shape, the rim or edge being at a 

 distance of 6 ft. from the tree trunk. 



Where poverty of the soil is the cause of 

 early decay in a tree, much good may result 

 from carefully removing the existing soil 

 from amongst the roots and substituting that 

 of better quality, preferably of a loamy 

 description. A small quantity of thoroughly 

 decomposed manure may be incorporated 

 with the soil, but for trees generally the 

 amount used should be very small. In 

 removing the exhausted soil it is a good plan 

 to cut a trench, say 2 ft. or 3 ft. wide, just 

 outside the root boundary and then to care- 

 fully work inwards amongst and beneath the 

 roots with a pick or fork, the greatest care 

 being exercised that no damage is caused to 

 these when carrying out the operation which 

 is simple enough in the case of young trees, 

 but very difficult where old specimens with 

 long stout roots have to be dealt with. The 

 new soil should be carefully rammed in 

 amongst the roots and made perfectly solid. 



Of insects that are injurious to trees, but 



