recently removed Trees, 44-9 



prop to the projecting end of the first, in preference to per- 

 forating the tree with a second nail. One such nail or spike 

 (as is hereafter described) will in this manner support a tree 

 of 20 ft. or 30 ft. high, against all the ordinary gales and gusts 

 of wind that usually lay unprotected trees prostrate. There 

 need be no hesitation, however, in using two nails, one in each 

 prop ; and, if their direction be at right angles to each other, 

 a very slight hold of the tree will be sufficient, as the impulse 

 in that case will always be against the side of at least one of 

 the nails, and the risk of the tree falling, or being blown 

 from the point of the nail, be obviated. When the tree 

 is established, and needs no longer support, I saw off both 

 ends of my props as near as possible to the nail ; split off with 

 a chisel what remains ; next saw off the projecting part of the 

 nail, and drive it with a punch into the tree, as it could 

 scarcely be drawn out without peeling the bark ; and I finish 

 by dressing the wound with grafting-wax. During the first 

 season it is healed over ; and, in eight or ten years' expe- 

 rience, I have not found disease or injury to follow. 



This method I have practised with the beech, the holly, 

 the pear, the willow, the elm, and even the sycamore ; but the 

 last I never wound except late in autumn. 



The practice, of course, would not be applicable in the 

 cherry and the plum, or in any of the resinous tribe. 



Fourth MetJiod. — In the total absence of branches, and 

 when the insertion of a nail is objected to, the following is the 

 method I have adopted : — Having secured the lower ends of 

 the props to the stakes at the requisite angle, let their upper 

 ends cross each other just beyond the tree, at a convenient 

 height, say 2 ft. above the surface, so as to include the tree in 

 the angle ; in which position it must be retained by a cross 

 bar, as in propping under the surface, hereafter to be described. 

 The end of one or both props must be long enough to project 

 a foot or two beyond the tree, in order that they may rest 

 upon and be nailed to a stake or stakes firmly driven into the 

 ground at that place as a point d'appui, so as to prevent all 

 motion of the props and consequent friction on the bark. 



In this case the work is rather troublesome to execute, and 

 unless it be skilfully performed the bark is liable to be injured. 

 It should, therefore, only be adopted when other methods 

 are, from particular circumstances, inapplicable. With due 

 care, however, it is perfectly harmless and efficient. 



Of Ropes and Ties. — Let me caution all and sundry against 

 ropes and ties, whether employed as guy ropes, or as substi- 

 tutes for nails. By their tightness they obstruct the flow of 

 the sap, and however perfectly they may at first be applied. 



Vol. VJI. — No. 33. g g 



