148 TREES AND SHRUBS 



of longitudinal cracks in the bark, which is also 

 slightly browned and flattened, as if there were a 

 hollow beneath. The part affected is from about 

 i to 3 feet in length, and from i to 3 inches 

 in width. If the bark is cut away the wood 

 beneath will be found perfectly firm, but hard and 

 dry, more like a piece of seasoned wood than part 

 of a growing tree. When such is the case the only 

 thing that can be done is to cut away the bark 

 back to the living tissue, thoroughly coat the wound 

 with gas tar, and shade the stem afterwards with a 

 few branches or something that does not need to be 

 fastened on the stem. Hay or straw bands cannot 

 be altogether recommended, as anything which 

 excludes the light tends to the softening of the 

 young bark. This should be avoided, as the firmer 

 the bark the better will be the ultimate success of 

 the tree. Iron tree-guards, though not beautiful, 

 have the advantage of protecting the stems of young 

 trees from the sun as well as from the attacks of 

 animals. In addition to the slight shade they give, 

 the iron, being a good conductor of heat, takes up a 

 large amount of the heat rays which would otherwise 

 be directed full upon the stem. 



A hot and dry season is no more likely to cause 

 sunstroke than a wet one, and probably not so 

 much, as we have noticed it in sunless years quite 

 as much as in bright summers. The time when 

 it is most likely to happen is when a few days of 

 hot sunshine follow a spell of wet weather, as the 

 wood is then soft and full of moisture, and is more 



