Preservation of Timber 75 



with the surface of the trunk. Then there is every chance of the 

 bark growing over the wound and completely healing it. 



The objection to this process is that, when the tree is felled and 

 sold, the blocks of cement may have been grown over, and are only 

 discovered by the teeth of the saw. But timber of this class is 

 usually left as long as it will stand, because its chief value at this 

 stage is as ornamental timber. 



Starvation is a danger to which trees growing on lawns are 

 sometimes liable. A lawn may have been constantly mown for 

 season after season, the cut grass removed, and nothing returned to 

 the soil in its place ; moreover, the leaf-fall will have been carefully 

 swept up, which still further impoverishes the soil. It must be 

 evident, therefore, that the soil will eventually become abnormally 

 poor by the removal of both grass and leaves ; and trees growing 

 under such conditions are certain to deteriorate. 



The application of a manure is usually followed by a marked 

 improvement in the foliage. The turf should be removed in even- 

 sized sods, which are rolled and stacked in a convenient place, the 

 distance from the trunk to which the sods are removed being 

 governed by the spread of the branches. The soil exposed should 

 be removed to a depth of three or four inches, if this can be done 

 without disturbing the roots, and replaced with good leaf-mould 

 compost to which has been added a small portion of well-rotted 

 manure an old mushroom bed is specially suitable. This is made 

 firm, and the turf is relaid. An improvement is certain to follow. 



PRESERVATION OF TIMBER. 



The antiseptic treatment of timber lessens the liability to decay, 

 and makes the wood of many species which naturally are of small 

 durability, available for any purposes for which previously it was 

 unsuited. 



A variety of substances is used, but creosote is perhaps the 

 best for outdoor purposes on an estate. The advantages of creosote 



