ORNAMENTAL AND SHADE TREES 



43 



for a precautionary purpose and as the tree grows it 

 strengthens the weak places itself, but the bolt is always 

 a reserve force. In boring the hole it is necessary to 

 countersink through the bark and sufficiently into the 

 wood to allow for the washer and head of the bolt or 

 nut to be entirely beneath the cambium or living tissue. 

 It should be disinfected and the washer and head or 

 nut embedded in tar or paint to keep out moisture. The 

 space around the nut can then be filled with elastic 

 cement, allowing the cambium and bark to cover the area 

 in time. The bark should be cut away slightly in a Q 

 shape to allow proper healing without rotting of the bark 

 as will follow if left rounded. This is the same process as 

 is practiced in all scientific cavity work. The washers 

 must never be placed against the bark as growth will 

 immediately cease at the point of contact and decay will 

 commence, which in time will leave the washer free or 

 allow the split to open. Bolting is many times practiced 

 unnecessarily, but if properly placed the bolt becomes 

 unnoticed in time and is always furnishing an "ounce of 

 prevention." 



In cases where a bolt is not sufficient to hold the limbs 

 it is best to chain or cable them. This allows for any 

 necessary swaying. The chain or cable is held by eye 

 bolts, which are placed in the same manner as the 

 bolts, with nuts embedded and the pulling forces at right 

 angles to the supported limbs. The threads on the bolts 

 are made longer than necessary to allow for taking up 

 the slack and are cut off when the chain is in its final 

 position. A set of strong blocks or a lineman's "come- 

 along" are a great help in drawing the limbs together 

 as they can be placed much farther out on the branches 

 and therefore exert a greater influence with less energy. 



During the past few years different methods of chain- 

 ing and bolting have been tqjed and the use of wire rope 

 cable has proved very satisfactory. Its breaking strength 

 is much above that of the same size chain and while the 

 chain is only as strong as its weakest link a wire rope 

 cable is not weak in any unit if properly made and tested. 

 It is pliable, easily established and practically unnotice- 

 able, especially when the tree is in full foliage. This wire 

 rope cable is fastened by clamps or in some cases by 

 tying or splicing. It is very essential that the wire rope 

 be of sufficient size to hold the load that is placed on it 

 and of more importance that eye bolts be strong enough, 

 especially in the eye, which, in many cases, are made by 

 blacksmiths, who do not pay proper attention to the 

 temperature of the iron when it is made. It should 

 always be subjected to a test that will insure its being 

 equal to the strength of the cable and thus to be able 

 to hold its part of the load. 



There is another phase of the strengthening of the tree 

 which to my mind has never been seriously considered. 

 Illustration Xo. 1 is an elm tree which although not 

 extremely large is of sufficient value to the abutting prop- 

 erty owner to make him willing to spend some money 

 in saving the tree. The tree is on an important thorough- 

 fare which many people pass daily. Its exposure is such 

 that a twisting wind storm would be liable to blow it 



down. Its trunk was perforated with mycelium and 

 decay penetrated more than half way through. If an 

 attempt had been made to remove the decayed portions 

 without reinforcing the trunk it would, in all proba- 

 bility, have blown over. Therefore, an iron cable was 

 fastened to three eye bolts, as seen in illustration No. 2. 

 This cable was tightened, but play enough has been 

 allowed for a swaying of the trunk in any direction. The 

 decayed portions of the wood were then removed and the 

 cavity treated with creosote and tar and will be left 

 exposed in this manner for the winter when an examina- 

 tion will be made to ascertain if the fungus has been 

 entirely eliminated and when such conditions exist it will 

 receive a proper filling, mostly for appearance sake as 

 filling does not seem to materially strengthen a tree or 

 eliminate diseases or insect invasions. There are, of 

 course, many ways in which this cable can be placed, 

 taking into consideration the weight of the top of the 

 tree and the weakened condition of portions of the trunk 

 will necessitate the placing of the cable in different posi- 

 tions. On some trees it would be necessary to use a 

 much heavier cable than others. The forces could be 

 mathematically computed and proper wire and position 

 for fastening could be figured. 



This is but one of the many problems which confront 

 the forester of today and if by this simple method the 

 priceless trees of our ancestors can be preserved, pro- 

 tected and made safe for this public there should be less 

 use for the axe along our highways. 



TREE WORK FOR JANUARY 



1. Remove all the dead and diseased trees that were 

 marked last Fall. In removing these trees be careful not 

 to destroy the undergrowth of valuable shrubs and young 

 trees. In most cases it will be necessary to first cut off 

 the first large branches before felling the main trunk 

 and in some cases it will even be necessary to remove 

 the trunk in sections. By means of ropes the various 

 parts may be lowered in suspension from neighboring 

 trees without allowing them to come down with force 

 on the growth underneath. In piling up the wood it is 

 also wise to keep the diseased and infested parts apart 

 from the good wood so that in the spring if it becomes 

 necessary to keep some wood on the premises, one can 

 be sure to keep only the good wood and destroy the 

 wood which is liable to spread insects and disease. 



2. All the brush should be burnt while the snow is 

 on the ground in order to prevent fire. 



3. Take care of all wounds. On most ornamental 

 trees on the lawn and on many trees in the woodland one 

 will generally find shallow wounds that need attention. 

 Bruises and fire are generally responsible for these 

 wounds. The bare wood exposed to the weather soft- 

 ens and attracts disease and insects, which eventually 

 injure the main body of the tree. This month is an 

 excellent time for attention of this character. The 

 edges of the wounds should be freed from loose bark 

 and the exposed wood should be covered with coal tar. 



