684 PROTECTION AGAINST DISEASES. 



deteriorated. Slightly stag-headed ornamental trees in parks 

 or avenues may, however, be given a fresh start in life by 

 trenching the ground under their crowns, breaking up any 

 impermeable stratum under their roots, and manuring them 

 with rich leaf-mould. Stag-headed trees may also be pollarded ; 

 the reduced length of stem may then enable the roots to 

 nourish the pollard shoots sufficiently to prolong the life of 

 the tree for several decades. 



3. Addendum. 



The death of trees by " bleeding to death," a popular phrase, 

 is not uncommon with elms. The bark splits off. in the 

 spring in flakes from a tree which appears to be quite healthy. 

 Sap exudes in frothy masses, and forms a deposit on the 

 exposed wood. This continues throughout summer, and if the 

 summer be a dry one the foliage eventually fades and falls off, 

 and the tree dies. In a case that occurred in the very dry 

 summer of 1906, the roots of the tree had been cut through 

 by new drainage works, the tree standing between two 

 cross-roads. Not a leaf was left on the tree by September, 

 although it was quite flourishing in April, and not more than 

 100 years old. 



Bleeding and peeling of the bark has also been observed 

 on oaks in Cumberland (Bray ton Hall). New bark was, 

 however, formed under the flakes of bark that peeled off. 



