1 6 BULLETIN 205. 



but clumsy and unsightly and affords an excellent retreat for 

 insects. Wire netting is a cheap and excellent protector for 

 trees and is now extensively used in America for the purpose. 

 In the case of young trees, it may be passed around the stem 

 and nailed to the support ; while on older trees it is usually 

 attached to wire nails driven into the trunk. In Washington, 

 the young trees are generally protected with box guards and the 

 older ones covered with loose wire netting. In the parks of 

 London, the young trees are protected with wire netting, which 

 is removed as the trees become older, except in the case of those 

 having tender bark ; and on London streets where iron guards 

 are used the trunk often has the additional protection of a wire 

 covering. Wire netting is also frequently seen in Frankfurt, 

 but has not yet been introduced into Paris and Berlin, and many 

 other cities on the continent. 



The best guards are made of iron, and, although somewhat 

 expensive, are widely used, especially in Europe. In Paris and 

 London, they are generally employed ; in Frankfurt and Berlin, 

 they are used on the busier streets ; while in Antwerp, Bonn and 

 Cologne, they are being introduced with the trees recently 

 planted. Unless city trees are under municipal control, the 

 styles of iron guards are likely to be very varied and often cheap 

 and inefficient. In Paris, they are contracted for by weight as 

 well as measurement and are very strong and durable. The 

 Paris guard is about seven feet high, cylindrical in form, and 

 constructed in two parts, the iron slats being riveted to semi-cir- 

 cles of iron. It is fastened to the tree support at the top and to 

 the grill at its base, or, in the absence of the grill, it is loosely 

 fixed in the earth. This style of guard has been adopted in many 

 parts of Europe. 



In America, combinations of iron rods and heavy wire netting 

 are frequently seen, while it is not uncommon to use rather low 

 iron guards and cover the trunk above the guard with ordinary 

 wire netting. In Frankfurt, the base of the tree is often pro- 

 tected by a perforated cylinder of sheet-iron set on short legs and 

 above this is rather stout closely woven wire. 



All guards of whatever kind should be fastened securely to 

 the tree in such a way that no injury will result from rubbing ; 



