Bracing and Repairing Trees 163 



when the hole is too deep for this method the water may be 

 extracted by tapping, that is by boring a hole with an 

 auger through the trunk to the bottom of the hole. A 

 half -inch auger will suffice, and the correct spot to bore can 

 usually be ascertained by measuring the depth of the hole. 

 After the water has been removed the cavity must be 

 thoroughly cleared of all decaying tissue and accumulated 

 vegetable matter, and in order that this may be done 

 effectually, it may sometimes be necessary to enlarge the 

 opening so that a suitable tool can be inserted. 



When the cavity has become quite dry a matter of 

 considerable importance it should be treated with creosote 

 or carbolineum and afterwards filled with concrete in the 

 proportion of one part of cement to four of clean gravel.' 

 Ram the concrete firm so that the cavity is perfectly filled, 

 and finish off at the orifice with pure cement in such a way 

 that the cambium may be induced to form a growth over 

 the edge of the filling. 



A cheap but temporary method of dealing with small 

 hollows and cavities in fruit and other trees, is to fill these 

 with a mixture of clay and cow-dung in the proportion of 

 two of the former to one of the latter. Knead well and 

 apply when in the consistency of putty, cleaning and 

 disinfecting the hollows before filling. 



Supporting Heavy and Diseased Branches. A limb 

 requires to be braced or strengthened when from its weight 

 and shape it is likely to get wrenched from the main stem 

 during stormy weather, when the weight of the minor 

 branches and foliage is too great for the strength of the 

 limb, when the wood of the tree is unusually brittle, when 

 trunk or limb is decayed, and when, from accident, the 

 tree has become one-sided and lost its natural appearance. 



Forked trees often require staying, as also do such as have 

 suddenly become exposed to storms to which they have 

 hitherto been unaccustomed. But probably in the matter 

 of bracing and strengthening, the most important of all 

 trees are those in our public parks and such as are con- 

 tiguous to or overshadow dwelling-houses. Park trees 

 should receive special attention in the way of making sure 



