CHAPTER XVI 

 BRACING AND REPAIRING TREES 



THOUGH occasionally resorted to in olden times, particularly 

 in the case of orchard trees, it is only of late years that 

 the systematic treatment of tree wounds and diseases has 

 been generally adopted. Even at the present time, the 

 filling of hollow trunks, bracing of heavy and diseased 

 branches and attention to insect and fungoid pests are 

 rarely engaged in and but imperfectly understood. 



When the value of old trees in an ornamental or utilitarian 

 sense is taken into account, it is remarkable what a small 

 amount of attention they receive when subjected to accident 

 or disease. As a general rule, cavities or hollows in a tree 

 stem, if left to themselves, gradually increase in size until 

 the ascending sap is entirely cut off, when the crumbling 

 stem either falls to pieces or is broken over by the wind. 

 A branch requires to be braced or strengthened when from 

 its weight and shape it is likely to get wrenched from the 

 main, stem during stormy weather and so injure the tree 

 or mau its natural beauty. 



Both insect and fungoid pests do a considerable amount 

 of damage to trees, both young and old, but as special 

 chapters are devoted to their depredations they need only 

 receive a passing notice here. 



Hollow Trunks and their Treatment. However 

 desirable it may be to repair hollow trunks, yet a great 

 deal of discrimination is necessary in deciding which trees 

 should be operated upon, especially in the case of such as are 

 reduced to mere shells and are not likely to derive any 

 benefit commensurate with the labour and cost of materials 

 involved in bracing and filling. 



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