CARE OF OLD TREES 121 



roots. The balance between top and bottom has 

 been destroyed. To restore it in some degree the 

 top-growth may be reduced by pruning out and 

 shortening back branches here and there, wherever 

 it can be done without spoiling the appearance of 

 the tree. This demands careful judgment, but some 

 old and sickly trees may certainly be restored in a 

 measure by this help. It is of no value in the case 

 of trees with decayed trunks, nor with those like 

 our Common Oak, which will not break from old 

 wood. But Elms, Robinias, and Red Oaks are 

 among those that respond to this treatment. 



Old trees with insecure branches can often be 

 saved from destruction by fastening the main 

 branches together on to the trunk. The common 

 practice of putting an iron collar round the branch 

 is a mistake. The iron prevents the branch expand- 

 ing naturally and ultimately chokes it. A better 

 way is to use a strong iron rod with a plate at the 

 end, and instead of supporting the branch by 

 encircling it, a hole is bored right through the 

 centre of it, through which the rod is pushed from 

 the outer side. In this way the weight is borne by 

 the iron plate, which should, by removing sufficient 

 bark, be allowed to fit close in to the wood. New 

 bark will gradually close over and hide the plate, 

 and instead of an ugly collar cutting into the wood, 

 the only evidence of artificial aid is the rod coming 

 from the inner side of the branch. 



Branches or snags that have to be removed should 

 be sawn off quite close to the trunk or larger branch 



