44 STAKING OR OTHER MEANS OF SUPPORT 



and the stem, and between the stem and the stake, to prevent the ties 

 cutting in and chafing. 



A useful temporary support for newly planted trees of goodly size is 

 afforded by affixing three pieces of cord, or, still better, three wires, to the 

 stem well up the tree, and then fastening the lower end of each to a stout 

 stake driven in the ground at equal distances round the tree. Trans- 

 planted trees with low branches can also be well supported without any 

 risk of injury by securing three or four of the branches to stout stakes 

 at intervals round the tree near its circumference. Any form of artificial 

 support should be removed as soon as possible; it is unsightly, often 

 through neglect causes damage by chafing or the cutting in of the ties, 

 and, once firmly established, the tree is better without it. 



Under TRANSPLANTING, I have advised the reduction of the top- 

 growth with the object of partially restoring the balance between branch 

 and root that must nearly always be more or less disturbed by that 

 operation. It has the further advantage of reducing the power of wind on 

 newly planted trees, and thus rendering staking or other means of 

 support for them less needed. 



