The Care of Ornamental Timber 73 



In the first case, owing to the conformation of the main 

 branches, water has been continually collecting in the cavity of the 

 fork (see Fig. 23, a) ; the surrounding bark becomes more or less 



Fig. 23. Trunk of tree showing how rot often commences by the retention 

 of rain-water in the fork, and the method of treatment, (a), cavity formed by 

 water collecting in the fork ; (b), auger-hole made to drain off the- water. 



permanently sodden, and, being free from exposure to air currents, 

 forms an ideal breeding-ground for rot-causing bacteria, and for the 

 germination of the spores of various species of fungi. If this 

 condition of affairs is allowed to continue, the tree is doomed ; all 

 the branching limbs will eventually break away, unless some 

 measures are taken to check an increase in the size of the cavity. 

 A cavity in this position will be full 01 water, and this must be 

 removed at once. The depth of the hole is measured with a rod, and 

 a hole is bored through the trunk with an auger, in an upwardly 

 slanting direction, as shown in Fig. 23, b ; the rotten wood is cut 

 away ; the freshly exposed surface of healthy wood is painted with a 

 carbolic acid mixture, or other suitable preservative ; the hole and 

 cavity are filled with cement. If the damage is not too far gone, and 



